Robin passed away peacefully in Cowichan District Hospital early in the morning June 28, secure in the love and companionship of Deborah, his partner, and his family.
Born in Victoria, BC September 1944, the fourth child in a family of five children, he moved a year later with his family to a small dairy farm, Journey’s End, on Caswell Rd. in Chemainus. Predeceased by his parents, Michael and Kay Thomas, older siblings Ian and Janet, and a namesake grandson in 2014, Robin is mourned by his partner, Deborah Gauti, and her families; son, Christopher (Korah) and grandson, Micheal; daughter, Cheryl, grandson, Raymond, and twins, Tanisha and Dennis; and brothers, John (Janette) and David (Lenore) as well as nieces and nephews from all families.
An accomplished student, Robin was valedictorian of his graduating class in 1962. He earned his wings as an Air Cadet in the Ladysmith Squadron and went on to enrol as an ROTP student at the University of Victoria in 1963.
He learned field surveying working on the Quinitsa power line in 1964 which he parlayed into overseas and Canadian pipeline work.
In latter years Robin loved his reading days at the Cowichan VIHA library.
There is no Frigate like a Book. To take us Lands away…
This traverse may the poorest take. Without oppress of Toll.
How frugal is the Chariot. That bears the Human Soul.
Emily Dickinson
Thank you to the Chemainus Medical Clinic, especially Dr. Archdekin, and to the staff at Cowichan District Hospital for Robin’s care. There will be no service by request.
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Robin was a very special man. He had a formidable memory especially concerning Military History and all things to do with Aviation. He admired Winston Churchill immensely as well as Theodore Roosevelt. He was either pondering something or had a book in his hands, preferring non- fiction and biographies of all types. One of life’s pleasures …a good book. Robin had a good sense of humour and was a very entertaining story teller and conversationalist. He especially liked to reminisce about his early days overseas in Algeria working on the Pipeline with the many characters he came across and most of them are now deceased. Robin enjoyed the retelling of many of these incidents. He spoke of Kuwait, Nigeria and absolutely loved Peru.
He was very proud of his children, Cheryl and Christopher, and had many special memories of them. He loved his family very deeply. He had a great concern for those he loved and was protective of them and liked to be encouraging. Once a favorite pastime, Robin loved to fish, although in later years, very rarely.
It was the Summer of 2007 he met Deborah, the woman who would care for him and love him and be with him to his last breath. He is also survived by her children: Jill, Rhonda and Carmen, and was very fond of them and their children and two great grandchildren. They enjoyed and spent some happy times with him.
He always had time for Chocolate. There was a feral cat who adopted us as much as a feral can… Robin named him Theodore, considering him very Presidential. Theodore looked like he was always wearing a very clean Tuxedo.
As time went and Robin became more ill, life’s small pleasures became very dear.
Free At Last; Rest in peace. You were a very brave and stubborn man.