Robert Thomsion

Robert Locke Thomison died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011 in Atlanta, at the age of 87.Locke was born in Chattanooga, on Jan. 16, 1924, the son of John Greer and Mary Brown Thomison. He was a dedicated leader in the communities of both Chattanooga, where he lived most of his life, and Atlanta, where he moved in 2002.Locke attended Lookout Mountain Elementary School, the Baylor School in Chattanooga, and Georgia Tech. After entering college, Locke answered the call to serve in the United States Navy. He served for three years during World War II, and was Honorably Discharged a Lieutenant (junior grade). He returned to Georgia Tech and earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1947. While at Tech, he served as Editor of several student publications; he was also elected to the honor societies Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) and the Anak Society in recognition of his leadership.In April, 1949, he married Mary Anna McKinney, daughter of Dixon Stroud and Clara Anna Morgan McKinney. Lockes career in the life insurance industry began in 1956. He worked with the Brown Agency of the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co., and later with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. Before retiring, Locke achieved many industry honors, which included membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Roundtable, serving as President of the Chattanooga and Tennessee Life Underwriters, and as the Tennessee National Committeeman to the National Association of Life Underwriters.In Chattanooga, Locke was active in many civic organizations. He served as president of the Chattanooga Boys Choir and as a board member of the Chattanooga Symphony Association; he was also an elder at the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. Locke was an avid supporter of the arts; he and his wife Mary Anna, an accomplished artist and art consultant, were patrons of the Hunter Museum of American Art and helped many artists to advance in their careers.Locke moved to Atlanta after the death of Mary Anna in 2000, to be close to his children. He joined Peachtree Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Stephen Minister. While living at Huntcliff-Summit Independent Living Community, he met Marjorie Flanagan Brown, and they married on Feb. 28, 2009.Locke is survived by his wife, Marjorie; his children, Kathleen Thomison (Ray) Kimsey, Stroud McKinney (Nora) Thomison, of Atlanta, Mary Greer Thomison, of Winter Park, Fla.; grandchildren, Claire Anna Kimsey and Dorothy Greer Kimsey, of Washington, D.C.; brother, John Brown Thomison, of Nashville; and sister in-law, Sally McKinney (James R.) Franklin, of Monteagle, Tenn.A visitation will be held at Wann Funeral Home in Chattanooga at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, followed by a graveside service at Forest Hills Cemetery at noon.Memorial contributions may be made to Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305.