Obituary: Thaves, Robert E. “Bob”
Age 87
Robert Eldon Thaves was born April 21, 1927 at Fairfield, WA to William and Thelma E. (Anderson) Thaves.
His family lived in Fairfield until he was seven years old, when he moved with his mother to Tekoa, where he attended schools.
Robert enlisted in the Navy on September 25, 1945.
He served on the USS Lowry in the Marshall Islands at the end of the war.
He was a Fireman First Class on his ship, and was discharged from the service on November 13, 1947 following a nine month stay in a naval hospital in Hawaii.
Bob returned to Tekoa following his service, and went to work as a farmer.
Bob married Evelyn P. Weaver on February 19, 1950 at Tekoa where the couple made their home.
Bob later worked for Everett Hay, operating and maintaining grain elevators.
In 1960, he went to work for the Tekoa School District, and was a custodian and maintenance man for the high school.
He retired from the school district after 29 years in 1989.
Mr. Thaves, described as a work-a-holic by his family, continued to work as a Mr. Fix-it Man, helping numerous residents of Tekoa with their repair problems before retiring at the age of 81.
He was a Jack of All Trades, but had a passion for woodworking.
Survivors include his wife Evelyn at the Tekoa home; two daughters, Diana Schneider of Yakima, WA and Robin (Victor) Brede of St. Maries, ID; two sons, Randy (Marsha Bowmer) Thaves of Buckeye, Arizona, and Brett (Katherine) Thaves of Orting, WA; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; one step grandchild and two step great- grandchildren.
Also surviving are two half-brothers, Larry Bruce of Harvard, ID and Darrell Bruce of Potlatch, ID, and a half-sister, Barbara Christensen of Rock Island, WA.
He was preceded in death by his brother Delwyn Thaves, two half-sisters, Bonnie Lyons and Marilyn Steiger.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. at Goldenrod Cemetery in Tekoa with Pastor Kathy Lee Kramer officiating.
The United States Navy will provide Military Honors.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Tekoa Ambulance Fund, Box 597, Tekoa, WA, 99033.
KRAMER FUNERAL HOME of Tekoa, WA is handling the arrangements.