Robert Ervin Thames, age 64, of Ormond Beach, Florida and West Jefferson, NC passed peacefully away in the loving presence of his family and longtime friend Mary Unson at 12:10pm on Monday, February 5, 2018.
Bob was born in Bethesda, MD to Brigadier General William M. Thames Jr., and Bernice Self Thames on June 30, 1953. Bob lived in Ormond Beach for much of his life and attended Osceola Elementary school in Ormond Beach, Bolles Academy in Jacksonville, FL and graduated from Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, FL. He also graduated from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, NC where he was actively involved in music, drama, and social networking. While at St Andrews he developed a close-knit group of friends who he loved deeply, and followed closely through his entire life. It was also at St. Andrews where his roommate, Bill Peterson, taught him to play the piano in return for harmonica lessons. Thus began a lifelong career in music that sustained him from that point, through the last days and minutes of his life. Bob also developed, at St. Andrews, a long-lasting love of the arts, and was a professional art appraiser, and at one time, an art gallery owner and curator.
First and foremost Bob was a close friend, and musical partner to hundreds. He was an accomplished professional musician, a deeply loved uncle to his nieces and nephews, an admired brother-in-law, and cherished brother.
Bob is predeceased by his parents, and also his loving sister, Nena Whittemore Fliegel. He is survived by his brother, William M. Thames III, sister-in-law, Patricia Leonard Thames, Brother-in-law, Robert Fliegel, Nephews: Alexander Douglas Whittemore, William M. Thames IV, and Troy Fliegel, and Niece Elizabeth Bernice Thames, and five grand-nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.
A Visitation with Bob's family will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at Lohman Funeral Home Ormond, 733 West Granada Blvd, in Ormond Beach. The Funeral Service will also be held at Lohman Ormond on Friday, February 9, beginning at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor Brad Yates officiating. Burial services will take place at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Jacksonville, FL at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 10th, 2018. Condolences and memories are welcome to be shared with the family via this online guestbook.
