Robert J. “Bob” Thompson died Monday, August 22, 2011 at the Baldwinville Nursing Home after an illness.

He leaves his wife of 59 years Elizabeth “Libby” (Stallings) Thompson, one son C. Stanley Thompson and his wife Mary-Lou of Gardner, one daughter Sharon T. Pruitt and her husband Tim of Chesapeake, VA, two grandchildren Kathryn M. Thompson of Merrimack, NH, and Robert L. Thompson of Gardner, one great-grandson Mason Suprenant of Merrimack, NH, one sister Patricia “Pat” Sachen of Sioux Falls, SD and one niece and one nephew.

Bob was born on December 2, 1929 in Ainsworth Township, Iowa , a son of the late Stanley R. and H. Vivian (Grove) Thompson. He graduated from Washington High School in Iowa, and from Iowa State College, now the Iowa State University, with a Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering.

Bob served in the US Navy during the Korean War as a Radio Repairman.  He worked for the former Fitchburg Paper Company as a researcher, and also worked for the City of Fitchburg at the West Fitchburg Waste Water Plant as Plant Operator for 17 years.

Bob adored his family; He enjoyed traveling the outdoors, and fishing. He liked to just relax by the lake and enjoy nature. Bob and Libby spent the last 8 winters in Homosassa Springs , FL.

Bob’s Funeral will be held on Friday, August 26, 2011 at 10:30am in the Ashburnham Community Church , 9 Chapel Street , Ashburnham , MA 01430
Burial will follow in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery , 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon , MA 01475 at 12 noon.

Calling Hours will be in the Westminster Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, (www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net), 123 Main Street , Westminster , MA 01473 , on Thursday, August 25, 2011 from 4pm – 7pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Heywood Hospital Oncology Department, In Memory of Bob Thompson, 242 Green Street , Gardner , MA 01440 or the Baldwinville Nursing Home, Activity Fund, 51 Hospital Road , Templeton , MA 01468 or the Charity of Choice.