Obituary: Bob B. Thacker

Bob B. Thacker

Bob B. Thacker

Bob B. Thacker, 94, of Prescott, Arizona, formerly of Santa Barbara, California, died Dec. 18, 2014, in the Community Living Center at the Prescott VA, surrounded by his wife and caregivers.

Bob was born in Smyrna, Georgia, in 1920 to Roy E. Thacker and Ida Pearl Thacker (Coward).

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Connie; his children Joyce (by his first wife Gladys Patterson) of Pacific Palisades, California, Troy Thacker (Claudia) of Ventura, California, Terri Thacker of Sacramento, California; grandchildren Bruce (Kathy), Mark (Carolyn), Henry, Lily and Jonah; great-grandchildren Kelly, Nicole, Savannah and Austin; and sisters Evelyn and Donna of Georgia.

Bob graduated from Reinhardt College with a B.A.; from Auburn with a B.S. in pharmacy; and from Baylor with a M.A. in hospital administration.

He retired from the Air Force after 30 years, attaining the rank of colonel. He served as a bombardier instructor during World War II, and was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He transferred to the Medical Service Corps and established the first pharmacy technician training program for the Air Force. Later he served the remainder of his career as a hospital administrator. While serving at the AF Tachikawa Hospital in Japan, he met and later married R.N. Connie (Bates).

After retiring from the military, Bob and Connie moved to Santa Barbara, California, where Bob served as hospital administrator at the University of California Student Health.

Bob then served as a pharmacist for Santa Barbara drug stores working closely with the Ostomy Society and American Cancer Society.

In 1993, Bob and Connie moved to Prescott, where he began volunteer work with Prescott People Who Care, hospice, and as a deacon and Stephen Minister with Trinity Presbyterian Church.

During his active years, Bob's hobbies were fishing and gardening. As health declined, he chose reading and creative writing to occupy his time.

A celebration of Bob's life will be 11 a.m. Jan. 10, 2015, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 630 Park Ave., Prescott. Donations can be made to the music fund at the church.

You are invited to log onto ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Bob's guest book and share memories with the family.

Information provided by survivors.


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