Robert Justus Thacker

On April 10, 2023, Robert J. “Bob” Thacker passed away at the age of 94.  He was born in San Francisco, California, and his family later moved to San Mateo. Bob started his musical career while in High School and would take his band to Teen centers and USO clubs around the San Francisco area  Bob and Merv Griffin, who also had a band, would trade off playing gigs.

Bob joined the Marine Corp and was stationed at Barstow, CA which received war materiel from the Pacific theater. He later decided to audition for the Marine Band in San Diego and was accepted. He did two tours of duty in Korea with additional duties in Japan and is a proud Korean War veteran. During this time he was stationed at USMC Cherry Point, NC where he met his future wife Phyllis Kelly while playing in a band at Moorehead City, NC. Later, he was stationed at Marine Corps headquarters in Washington DC, at 8th and I St. As a senior Master Sergeant he was awarded the title of Bandmaster and performed those duties at USMC AirStation Kanehoe,HI, and finished his Marines Corps career at USMC Quantico.

In his 40’s, after retiring from the military, Bob went to college where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance. He worked as an accountant for the Smithsonian Institute, the National Academy of Sciences, and later for the Department of Defense (Bowling Air Force Base) where he would eventually retire from. Bob enjoyed genealogy, and collecting stamps and coins.

He is survived by his children Donna Powers, Robert J. Thacker Jr. (Lynne), Stephen Thacker (Ellen), and Anela Jett; his brother George “Russ” Russell Thacker; his grandchildren Kelly Robucci (Mike), Paul Thacker (Sarah), Mark Thacker, Bryce Thacker, Anthony Thacker, Matthew Thacker and Robert Jett (Andrea); his great-grandchildren Alex Robucci, Owen Robucci, Claire Robucci, Wesley Jett, Aiden Thacker, Phoebe Thacker and Aislinn Thacker. He is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Phyllis Ann Thacker.

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