Lorne William Thomas Jr. died peacefully in his home on July 16th 2017 in Chelmsford, MA, with his family. He was 84. He was born on June 6th, 1933, in Medford Massachusetts into a large family. An outstanding athlete at Medford High School, his accomplishments in basketball and baseball resulted in a collegiate scholarship offer and an opportunity to play minor league ball for the Philadelphia Phillies. He subsequently enlisted in the Air Force and served five years as a military policeman at var ious U.S. and Canadian bases during the Korean War. During this time, he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Manning. Lorne worked with the U.S. Postal Service in Brockton and Woburn Massachusetts. He also worked with his brother Slim selling advertising space in phone books for towns in the suburban Boston area. In 1967, he moved with his growing family to Reading, Massachusetts. He also helped provide for his seven children by serving as a referee and umpire for a wide variety of sports at the high school and collegiate level including wrest ling, soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball and baseball becoming one of the most recognized and accomplished collegiate baseball umpires in New England. Lorne is survived by his seven children, Lorne W. Thomas III, Barbara Morgan, Patricia Thomas, Alison Thomas, Steven Thomas, Alan Thomas and Scott Thomas. He will be missed by his daughter-in-law Anne Thomas, wife of Lorne and Jennifer Thomas, wife of Scott. He leaves behind eight grandchildren who all loved their Grampy; Chris Morgan, Allison DAmelio, Sophia DAmelio, Grace Thomas, Kyle Thomas, Jessica Thomas, Scotty Thomas and Jayson Thomas. Lorne was preceded in death by his wife Pat and all five of his brothers and one sister. At the request of the family, funeral services will be private and limited to family members.