Robert Lee Thompson

Robert Lee Thompson

1947-2022

Madison - Robert L. Thompson, 74, of Madison passed away peacefully at his home on April 8 after a long battle with COPD. He was born in Waterville, Maine on August 11, 1947, the son of Harry and Beverley (Thompson) Carter. 

Bob married Cathryn (Morris) Thompson in 1970 and celebrated 51 years of marriage.  They resided in Bingham, Maine with their two children until moving to Madison in 1986. He was a loyal husband, a good provider for his family, a member of the Masons and the Elks. Bob was not a church-goer, but he was a man of faith who named Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Bob graduated from Valley High School in Bingham in 1965, and moved to Connecticut for a short time to work for Pratt Whitney.  He returned to his home in Moscow, Maine and took a job at Quimby Veneer Co.  Shortly thereafter, he worked at Andrews Hardware on Main Street in Bingham until he signed on with Central Maine Power Company spending the rest of his career there, retiring in 2003 after 33 years of service.  He began in the River Crew, then later advanced to Dam Operator where he ran hydroelectric dams up and down the Kennebec River. In later years, he became a Class A Lineman until retirement. His most memorable time with CMP was as a lineman trying to keep the power on in the Athens/Hartland/Harmony area during the Ice Storm of 1998. He remembers the patience, generosity and appreciation given his team during and after the outage by the citizens of those towns.

Bob was an avid and successful deer hunter. His world revolved around the month of November.  He mostly hunted alone—hiking into the most remote areas, shooting the biggest buck he could find, and taking days to drag the deer out of the woods. Several antler racks and a trophy deer head are on display in his man-cave.  He also loved bird hunting, bear hunting, fishing, and in earlier years, four-wheeling and snowmobiling, and was a member of a men’s softball league. 

Every Friday night for over 30 years, you could find Bob playing cards with his Bingham poker buddies—Lionel Clark, Maynard Hill, Pat Reed, Bill Holmes, and Harley Orr among others.  He was not much of a man to travel, but he managed to fit in several trips to Las Vegas, Foxwoods Casino, Oxford Casino, Monhegan Sun and Holiday Slots.

Bob loved muscle cars.  During his lifetime, he owned  ’65, ’66, and ’67 Pontiac GTOs, an Oldsmobile 442 and a Dodge Challenger RT. He could speed-shift like a pro, and because during the 70’s he served as a Town Constable in Bingham and a Deputy with the Somerset Sheriff’s Dept., he was barely ever stopped for speeding; except when he was caught by Maine State Trooper Ted Bowen for driving 105 mph in a 55. Unfortunately, he passed on his love for hot cars and the “need for speed” to his children and grandchildren!

Bob is predeceased by his father, mother, and infant brother, Bruce. Bob is survived by Cathryn, his wife; son, Christopher Thompson and partner Angie Scott of Cornville; daughter, Amanda Bolduc and husband Robert of Estero, Florida; four grandchildren, Brayden, Sydney and Ellie Bolduc of Estero, Florida, and Devon Thompson of Clearwater, Florida; brothers Clayton Carter and wife Sandy of Moscow, Maine, and Craig Carter and wife Roberta of Concord Township, ME, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. 

During the last months of his life, Bob was especially grateful for the nearly daily phone calls from his cousin, Gerry Moulton, and visits and calls from his good friend, Dickie Pullen. He spoke often of how grateful he was for the camaraderie and good times had at Walter Hight’s camp on Smithfield Pond and the great meals Walt prepared for all his buddies. Bob was fond of his Maine General Hospice nurses, Brenda and Kristina.  He looked forward to their visits, conversation and their humor. The family is forever grateful for their wise and respectful care of our Bob.

A graveside service will be held at Robinson Memorial Cemetery in Moscow, Maine on Tuesday, July 19 at 10 am. Arrangements are entrusted with Giberson Funeral and Cremation Services of Madison, Maine.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maine General Hospice & Volunteers of Kennebec Valley, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME  04903-0828, or Double B Equine Rescue, 997 West Mills Rd., Industry, ME  04938.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To leave a condolence for the family and to view the online obituary, please visit www.gibersonfuneralhome.com

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