Lyle Thomas

On Sunday, July 10, 2017, Lyle Percy Thomas passed away at his home in Newport, Oregon. Lyle was born on September 27, 1924 in Jefferson, Oregon. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a landing craft pilot during the campaign to retake several Pacific islands from the Japanese.
After the war, he returned home and married Barbara Mercier in 1947. Lyle and Barbara had four children. Tragically, Barbara died at age 35 during childbirth. Lyle was fortunate to have two true loves in his life, as he later married his second wife, Jean, who had two sons that Lyle added to his family. Lyle and Jean had a son together. Jean passed away in 2007.
Lyle worked most of his career for the U.S. Postal Service, but he also raised Christmas trees at his small Salem farm. His true passion, however, was commercial salmon fishing at the Oregon Coast. Following his retirement from the Post Office, Lyle sold his Salem farm and moved to Newport to be closer to his fishing boat and many dear friends he made while fishing in the area. Lyle spent his winters in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where he also had many close friends.
Lyle is survived by his seven children, Linda Zimmerman; Rod, Bruce, Kent, and Jon Thomas; and Mark and Jeff Bunnell. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Lyle’s family plans to spread Lyle’s ashes into the ocean that he loved, and later hold a celebration in his honor.

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