Dr. George Thome

Dr. George D Thome, age 89, of Lyndeborough, NH passed away of pneumonia/Covid at home with his family, on March 19, 2025. He was born in Detroit, MI, 1936.

His father, Walter E Thome, 1904-1983 was from Lancaster County, PA.. His mother, Jessie Woodward Thome, 1909 to 1947 from Cumberland County, PA. Walter and Jessie were married 1934.His step mother, Mable Graham Hansen Thome, married 1948, from Grand Traverse County, MI., 1904-2000.

George is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sue (Paxton) Thome, their 3 children: Michael (Kelly) Thome, Lynn (Christopher) Guida, and Jennifer (Brian) Lynch; seven much beloved grandchildren, his sister, Elizabeth Evans, step-brother, Neil Hansen, and nieces and nephews.

George was laid to rest on March 29, 2025 in a family ceremony.

George graduated from Grosse Pointe High School (South), Grosse Pointe, MI., January, 1954.Graduated from Antioch College, Ohio with a BSEE,1959. He had had 2 Antioch co-op jobs at the Raytheon Company (now RTX) and was interested in what he had been doing there and returned to the Raytheon Company. He soon decided he wanted to go Graduate School and was supported under the Raytheon Advanced Study Program to go to Cornell University for a MSEE, 1962 and PhD in Electrical Engineering, 1966.

George had the opportunity to do his PhD research at the newly built Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. After graduation George returned to the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory as a Research Associate to do further Ionospheric research.

He then returned to the Raytheon Company and had worked there for about 45 years on the design and implementation of large scale, land based radars: such as ROTHR (Drug Interdiction), THAAD (Defense), and WAAS (a navigation system for the FAA that enhances safer air travel) in the 1990’s and all have been updated. George continued to enjoy his research on the Ionosphere and the travel it involved.

George published numerous technical papers, invited to write the (older) World Book Encyclopedia article about Radars so 3 levels of students would be able to understand the topic, headed up projects, and has a Patent.

George was a Ham Radio operator beginning in High School: call letters W8OSJ (novice license) to AB1DV (primary license). Thus, unknowingly, began his Ionospheric interest as Ham Radio operators depend on the ionosphere for their Long Distance communication using the High Frequency (HF) bands. George was an Assistant Boy Scout leader.

After retirement, George and Sue started on Genealogy research and travel as to who our ancestors were, where they came from, and hoping to find out something about their lives which actually became a wonderful reconnection to distant family members. Also for his love of learning he developed age appropriate hands on projects for his grandchildren to do and answer their questions as well as helping stack wood (a fun learning process for his 2 youngest grandchildren). He also enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s music presentations, swim meets, soccer games, and had an interest in their robotics groups.

George/Dad/Grandpapa will be very much missed.

If you would like to donate in his memory we would suggest: the blind, cancer research, your favorite charity or to plant, native to your area, trees and/or flowers to beautify and enrich our earth.