ROCKPORT – Richard Douglas Thomas, 58, died unexpectedly Oct. 8, 2006, at his home. Born Sept. 23, 1948, in Camden, he was the son of Richard E. and Virginia C. (Merriam) Thomas. He was a 1966 graduate of Camden High School and a 1970 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, where he received an engineering degree. Dick also proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1972 to 1977. His employment included Camden National Bank; sales associate with Know Woolen Mill, Mount Vernon; Albany International; Delta Chemical; and most recently, Ingredient Solutions, Inc., where he worked as a sales representative. Dick’s hobbies included writing poetry and short stories, building sailboat half models, fly fishing, going to camp at Moosehead Lake, and sailing on Penobscot Bay. He enjoyed spending time with his family and taking his mother out to local restaurants. He will be remembered for baking his cranberry apple pie and celebrating the family tradition of Thanksgiving in April. He was a member of the First Congregational Church, Camden and a member of the Amity Masonic Lodge, Rockport. Surviving, are his mother, Virginia Thomas of Camden; his daughter, Samantha Thomas and her companion, Adam Davis, of Rockland; two sisters, Jean Small of Bangor and Barbara Thomas of Camden; one niece, Katrina Underhill and her husband, Cory, of Camden; and three nephews, Shawn Berry and his wife, Gina DeSciscio, of Nevado, Calif., Peter Small and his wife, Amber, of Bangor and Alex Small and his wife, Andrea, of Portland. He was predeceased by his father, Richard E. Thomas, who died in 1990. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at the First Congregational Church, 55 Elm St., Camden, with the Rev. Kevin Pleas officiating. A reception will be held immediately after the service at the church. The family suggests memorial donations be made in Dick’s memory to the Atlantic Challenge Community Sailing Program, 643 Main St., Rockland, ME 04841. Arrangements are with the Laite Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden.
RICHARD D. THOMAS
