Robert Thrash

Bob Thrash was a genuine and honest man and he never met a stranger. He was a standup guy and treated everyone with kindness. He was a loving and dedicated husband of 45 years and father to two sons. He wore many hats and wore them well - husband, Dad, Grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and coach. He always had a smile on his face and an infectious laugh that made him so special to everyone.

Bob Thrash was born November 13, 1943 in Jefferson City, Missouri to Harold and Lena Thrash. As a young boy Bobby Thrash enjoyed playing outside and having a good time with his big sister Joann, his little brother Donnie and his friends. During his high school years, Bobby was an all-star athlete who lettered in football, basketball and track at Helias Catholic High School. He was a tenacious player who may not have been the biggest or the tallest, but as a rival once stated, "if you could stop HIM you had a chance to win!"

Majoring in Engineering at the University of Missouri at Rolla, Bob joined the fraternity Phi Kappa Theta. A fraternity house where everyone slept outside on the "sleeping porch" year round, regardless of the snow during Missouri winters. A story he loved to tell.

As a young, professional engineer, Bob worked at Boeing on the transporter that moved the Saturn rocket to the launch site for the NASA space program in Florida.

After moving to Texas through his job at LTV Aircraft, where he worked on F8 fighter jets, Bob met Martha Lee DeBerry, a fiery American Airlines stewardess from East Texas. Through their mutual love and affinity for Corvettes they were married in Dallas, Texas on August 23, 1969. Starting a family in Irving, Texas with their sons Christopher and Nicholas, they built a house and moved to Plano in 1977.

During this time Bob worked for the City of Dallas Water Utilities, where he continued his career working on various projects including many Dallas reservoirs and the White Rock Lake waterway and trail systems, which his son Chris rides frequently today. He retired after 24 years of service in 1997.

Bob had a love of sports and he shared that love with his boys. He coached many of their youth teams to city championships in football, soccer, basketball, and baseball. His love of coaching and meticulous attention to detail made him one of the best. It was his true career, a missed calling. Driving from his job in Oak Cliff to Plano to make practices and games, he was always there. Attention to detail included: his clipboard, playbook binder, index cards for play calls & taping plays to wristbands for the quarterback. He even bought a heavy punching bag to use as a blocking dummy. Helping to build fences for fields and a backstop for the diamond. He was dedicated and did it all. He was all about preparation, fundamentals, and "doing it right the first time". He was a good teacher and was ready with a "Slow it down", to make sure you understood. And after all the trophies and victories and some harsh defeats, he was always a good sportsman. He never wanted to show anyone up and brag or boast. He was reserved and taught being respectful. He took great pride in the success of the teams he coached, his sons' performance, and the time he got to spend with his sons and their numerous teammates.

With sports came lots of equipment, Bob was obsessed with researching athletic gear. It is a well-known fact that he wrote "THRASH" on practically everything he owned in permanent black ink. There was never a lost ball, bat, or glove. He loved doing research and was called upon many times by his children and their spouses whenever a purchase was needed to be made whether a new bike or stereo equipment. You could bet Bob would find the BEST item at the BEST price and he would be sure to call you and let you know about it. He was thorough in most everything he did.

Bob's sense of humor was second to none. Bob loved to laugh and he loved making others laugh too. When visiting his grandchildren he would often hide upon arrival until they had searched the house only to find Grandpa hiding behind a huge stuffed animal. Grommy Lee was always included and they would all share a big laugh. Grandpa Bob was always on the ground playing cars, trains or wrestling with his grandchildren. He was the warmest soul you'd ever meet.

Summertime was a favorite of his, when he would go swimming with his grandkids and use his enormous "THRASH" grill to cook up some barbecue with the help of his sons. He was famous for his "Nestea plunge" after a hot day in the yard.

Bob loved ice cream and all things sweet, and never met a cookie he didn't like. He loved watching crime dramas on TV and quoting old movie lines that were funny. He would make silly noises and dance around carrying on. He was so much fun to be around.

In his retirement, Bob was a true American Patriot and he loved all things "made in America." He drove a red Ford Truck and there was always an American flag hanging outside their home.

Bob's love extended beyond his immediate family to his nieces, nephews and his children's friends as well, often greeting them with a big "whadda guy!" followed with his boisterous laugh. He was a faithful friend and he & Lee went on many road trips with their dear neighbor friends and also shared "Thai Night" Tuesdays.

One of his close friends sent a letter that describes Bob beautifully.
"Bob is the best friend a person could have and the best man one could know. Bob has been steadfast; by that I mean he has always been Bob, nothing fake, no airs, simply himself. In my experience that makes him one in a million. His steadfastness made everyone comfortable with him and knew he could be trusted. It is my privilege to call him my friend." Jay Ossman


After many family gatherings and the infamously long "Thrash goodbye," whenever we pulled out of his driveway after a visit, he would do his famous "funny walk" for his Grandchildren and we would all laugh and he would part with his signature phrase. So it's only fitting that we say it once more for our beloved Bob, Dad, Grandpa and friend.
"See you later Alligator, after while crocodile!"

We love and will miss him dearly.

Bob is survived by his wife Martha Lee Thrash, sons Chris Thrash and his wife Natalie and Nick Thrash and his wife Elizabeth, grandchildren Dylan, Logan, Nicholas, James and Sophia Thrash, siblings Joann Groner and her husband Dick and Don Thrash and his wife Amy, and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Monday, March 23, 2015 at 11:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas 75023.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made in Bob's name to:
Fisherhouse.org, USO.org, salvationarmydfw.org, and/or Faith Presbyterian Hospice