PORT ORANGE
Robert Stephen (Steve) Thomas, 84, died April 20, 2019 in Port Orange, FL, where he and his son moved in 2016. He was born in Pendleton, IN, July 15, 1934 in the former Christian Church parsonage on High Street.
Steve graduated from Pendleton (IN) High School in 1952 and Indiana University in 1956 with a BS in Business. He was honored as a Distinguished Military Graduate thru I.U.’s ROTC program and offered a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry Branch. While at I.U., Steve was a 4 year “I” man in Rifle and designated an NRA All American in 1955.
In 1957, Steve was hired by American Fletcher National Bank (now JP Morgan Chase) in Indianapolis in their Administrative training program. In 1960, he was selected to be one of the six original IBM 1401 programmer/analysts in AFNB’s fledgling Data Processing department. Steve retired in 1990 as a Vice President having served in several management and staff positions.
Steve was active in Scouting, having served 4 years as a Cub Master, 4 years as treasurer in a different Cub Scout Pack and 2 years as an Explorer Post Leader.
Survivors include his son, R. Perry Thomas; daughters: Wynter Thomas; Amy (Aaron) Hopkins; stepdaughter, Kathy (Mark) Singleton; 4 granddaughters, 2 grandsons, a granddaughter-in-law, 2 great grandsons, a great granddaughter and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving, a step sister, Lee Ann Cooper.
He was pre-deceased by his wife Mary Ann, whom he married January 1, 1988 and moved to Sun City, Arizona in 1994; his parents Robert F. and Jeanne R. Thomas; stepmother, Vivian M. Thomas; sister, Christine Miller; brother-in-law, James C. Miller and infant brother, Randy.
Per the decedent’s instructions, cremation will follow and there will be no services. Remains will be buried in Crown Hill cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. You are invited to share your memories with the family at www.baldwincremation.com
