Robert "Bob" Timothy McCoy

Robert Timothy McCoy, age 79, of Olympia, passed away at his home on December 31, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

Bob was born October 16, 1945 in Twin Falls, Idaho, the son of Madison Monroe and Wynema Jean (Duncan) McCoy.  He grew up in San Diego, California.  Bob graduated from Hoover High School in San Diego in 1963, then went on to Sacramento State College, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Sciences. 

Bob married Geraldine "Jerri" Thorpe on August 26, 1967 at San Diego, California. Bob and Jerri were married for 57 years, and have two sons, Jon and Brian. 

Bob worked as a State Park Ranger for the State of Washington for 12 years at Ginkgo Petrified Forest, Lake Easton, Illahee, Wanapum, and Sun Lakes State Parks. He then moved into the Olympia headquarters of the Washington State Parks and worked for 11 years as an Office Manager and Internal Auditor.  He then switched to the Washington State Patrol Internal Affairs  department and worked for 2 years as an Inspector and Internal Auditor. 

Bob especially loved railroad history. He was a long time member of the national historical societies for the Great Northern Railroad, the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Burlington Northern Railroad.  He also got involved with the North American Railcar Operators Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and operation of antique railroad maintenance cars.  He regularly took his railcar on rail excursions in the Pacific Northwest. 

Bob was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Olympia where he served for many years on the board of trustees.  He also served for many years on the board of Interfaith Works of Thurston County.  He was very involved with the Boy Scouts while Jon and Brian were scouts, as an assistant troop leader, and as an adult leader in the Order of the Arrow. He received the Founder's Award in 1991, and was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Tumwater Area Council in 1992. 

Remaining to cherish Bob's memory are his wife Jerri; sons Jon (Carla), of Oak Harbor, and Brian, of Olympia; and his sister, Barbara Moore, of San Diego.