Charles "Bob" Robert Thompson

Charles "Bob" Robert Thompson, 52, of Harrisburg, PA, and formerly of Hobart and Lowell, IN, passed away suddenly on October 31, 2026. Born on August 16, 1974, in Gary, IN, he was the beloved son of the late Raleigh Gene Thompson Sr. and Margarita Thompson and was named in honor of his late paternal grandfather, Charles "Buster" Thompson.

Bob grew up in Hobart, IN, where he and his older brother, Raleigh Jr., spent their childhood outdoors playing every sport they could find, spending cherished time with their maternal grandparents, Bartolo and Josephina Flores, and spending summers in Central City, KY, with their paternal grandmother, Melvina Thompson. A gifted athlete, Bob was a 1993 graduate of Hobart High School, where he played varsity basketball—earning the nickname "Pippen" after Scottie Pippen during the glory days of the 1990s Chicago Bulls—and worked at the local McDonald’s.

Always looking to challenge himself, Bob chose what he felt was the toughest branch of the military—proudly bucking the family tradition set by his father, his grandfather Bartolo, and his uncle’s John and Richard, who all served in the United States Navy—and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1994. He served faithfully on both Active Duty and the Reserves until retiring at the rank of Staff Sergeant in 2022. A combat veteran, Bob deployed in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the course of his career, he was stationed in Yuma, AZ, Twentynine Palms, CA, and Fort Leonard Wood, MO. During his time as a Marine, Staff Sergeant Thompson was a rowdy and proud Motor Transport Operator, Instructor, and Chief. He lovingly imparted his years of wisdom and lessons to any Marine he encountered, was never too busy or senior to help a fellow Marine, and the Marines who were fortunate to serve alongside him were better off for having done so. For Bob, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" wasn’t just a motto—it was how he lived. Long after taking off the uniform, he remained deeply devoted to his Marine brothers, staying in close contact with those he served alongside and always showing up to support them through difficult times.

Above all, Bob was a proud and devoted father to his son, James Cooper, working tirelessly throughout his life to provide and serve as a good role model for him. Bob and James spent hours bonding over working on and talking about cars. Following his active-duty military service at Fort Leonard Wood, Bob lived in Lowell, IN, and worked for CSX and Norfork Southern railroads, traveling extensively across the country. He later joined Honeywell Technologies as a Senior Project Specialist working on automated warehouse systems—a role that brought him to the Harrisburg, PA, area and suited his knack for solving complex logistical problems (and navigating the subsequent change orders that always followed).

It was in Harrisburg that Bob fell in love with his partner and best adventure companion of the last four years, Tiffany (Tiff) Marie Lewis. Having grown up in a home where his mother bred Labradors, Bob was a lifelong dog lover and stepped effortlessly into life with Tiff and their two dogs, Mango and Stuart. Together, Bob and Tiff loved traveling across the country in their travel trailer. Bob was always tinkering with upgrades to the rig and was ready at a moment’s notice to hook the trailer up to the truck and hit the open road—keeping meticulous, Marine-grade planning and logbooks of every trip they took, and cooking up big breakfasts on his Blackstone griddle at camp. Always handy and able to fix or build just about anything, Bob was also talented at home remodeling and car repairs. He became very close with Tiff’s family, tinkering on or discussing projects with her dad, Kyle, and going on sibling trips with Tiff, Troy, and Heidi.

Bob also shared a love for the outdoors and endurance challenges with Tiff and his friends, enjoying hiking, morning runs, long-distance road cycling, and just about any endurance event his friends talked him into. He was most proud of completing two half marathons in one week, one in Grand Teton National Park and the other in Yellowstone. Away from the trail, he loved live music and attending shows at numerous music venues, sampling craft beer, nachos, and pizza from around the world, and as a lifelong, die-hard Chicago Bears fan, spending every autumn Sunday cheering on his team.

Though Bob could be a private person at first, once you were one of "his people," there wasn’t anything in the world he wouldn’t do for you—even stepping in to run a 5K, become a pool closing specialist, drink a latte, or act as second eyes to make things "click." He was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need and brought warmth, a smile, and a laugh everywhere he went. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him—especially Mango, who will get less “people food” and popcorn without him.

Surviving Bob are his loving partner, Tiffany Marie Lewis of Harrisburg, PA, and their dogs, Mango and Stuart; his cherished son, James Cooper Thompson; his brother, Raleigh Gene Thompson Jr. (Jill) of Etowah, NC; his nephews, Khari Dominic Thompson (Cristal) and their daughter, Maya Zeynada, of Boston, MA, Nicholas Robert Aaron Thompson—who proudly carries Bob’s middle name—(Victoria Lee) of Hobart, IN, and Santiago Miguel Thompson (partner Carolina Becerril) of Boston, MA; his stepmother, Bonnie Corsen (David) of Valparaiso, IN; his sister, Beverly Peirick (Donald) and their sons, of Ohio; his close uncle, John Mark Thompson (Kem) of St. Marys, GA, and uncle, Richard Thompson (Mary Lou) of Owensboro, KY; Tiffany’s family, including her parents, Kim and Kyle Schell, and her brother, Troy, and partner, Heidi; as well as extended family and many, many Marine brothers and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raleigh Gene Thompson Sr. and Margarita Thompson; his older brother, Donald Edward Thompson; his maternal grandparents, Bartolo and Josephina Flores; and his paternal grandparents, Charles "Buster" and Melvina Thompson.

Two Celebrations of Life will be held for Bob to accommodate family and friends across the country. The first will be held on December 5, 2026, at the Hobart VFW, 540 Indiana Street, Hobart, IN from 2 – 5 PM. The second will be held on December 12, 2026, at the Abbey Bar, 50 N Cameron St 2nd floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101 from 2 – 6 PM. Plans are also underway for Bob’s ashes to be interred with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

We hope you’ll honor Bob’s final wishes for his family and friends: “Take the time to hold a hand, kiss on the cheek, tell someone you love them, and slow dance with them. Don’t cry for me, just spend time remembering the memories we created.”

For more information or to send messages of condolence, please visit www.parthemore.com