Waldo Bossard Thomas
Waldo Bossard Thomas, “Uncle Tom,” 84, of Goldendale, died at his home on March 15, 2010.
He was born Dec. 1, 1925, and raised in North Seattle.
Waldo attended Lincoln High School in Seattle and later took a job with the Washington State Ferry System. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Merchant Marines and the 41st Rainbow Division in Europe. After his military service, Waldo attended college at Farragut College Technical Institute in Northern Idaho, where he studied electrical engineering.
His interest in trains and railroads began very early in life. Many times he was brought home by police after hopping a freight car out of the Inter Bay Freight Yards. The Index and Galena Railroad, a five-acre layout in Monroe, was a source of many hours of fun and fond memories with all of the families and his many railroading friends.
Waldo was a member of the Live Steamers Association, past member of the Sierra Club, and numerous model railroad affiliations. His interest in railroading, history, and the environment endeared him to many and exasperated others.
Waldo’s move to Klickitat County held great promise of a one-inch scale railroad winding around an 80 acre property. The sudden death of a best friend-cousin slowed down the progress. Waldo’s desire and motivation stalled with this untimely death and the lifelong dream never came to fruition.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Waldo and Ruth Thomas; a sister, Patricia Jayne Dillenburg; a nephew and a niece-in-law.
Survivors include many nieces and nephews and brother, Lawrence F. Thomas of Marysville and Peter D. Thomas of Normandy Park, and their families.
A memorial service will be held at Columbia Hills Memorial Chapel in Goldendale on Friday, March 26, at 1 p.m.
