Robert Thompson

ROBERT MIDDLETON THOMPSON

January 8, 1957 – June 2, 2018

Rob Thompson, husband, father, grandfather, and entrepreneur, died on June 2, 2018 after a three-year battle with metastatic melanoma.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia; three children, Bryan Thompson (Leila), Angela Tillotson (Shane), and Jennifer Phlaum (Justin); eight grandchildren, with another on the way; his father, Lloyd; and his siblings, Roger and Sarah.  He is predeceased by his mother, Nancy, and his granddaughter, Anarazell Joy Phlaum.

            Rob was born in Long Beach, California, to Lloyd and Nancy Thompson.  The family moved to Turlock in 1968.  While in high school, Rob earned money milking cows and running his own fruit stand.  After graduating from Hughson High in 1975, he served a stint in the Navy before returning home to marry his high school sweetheart, Patricia.

In 1986, Rob founded Turlock Chimney Sweeps.  During those first years, he would show up at a job in traditional black top hat and tails, to the delight of the children in the home.  In 1992, the family moved to Takilma, Oregon, building their own home on five acres nestled in the woods.  Rob continued his work as a chimney sweep in Oregon and California, eventually sweeping over 12,000 chimneys until his retirement in 2016.

Rob loved adventure, whether it was learning to run a bungee-jump ride on the fair circuit, driving his own 18-wheeler as a long-haul driver, heading to Belize with his son to scuba dive, hiking the hills and rafting the rivers near his home, camping at Pine Crest, or taking a helicopter ride.  Any adventure was improved when he had family with him.

           The family invites you to join them for a memorial service with military funeral honors on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 3:30 pm at Takilma Bible Church, 10343 Takilma Rd., Cave Junction, Oregon. Condolences can be shared on-line at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com or via mail to P.O. Box 1129, Cave Junction, OR 97523.