Robert Henry Thym passed away on June 16, 2025, at the age of eighty-nine. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Henry Paul Thym and Mabel Meyer Thym of St. Louis, MO., and he leaves behind his wife, Sally Askew Thym.
Bobby attended John Burroughs School in St. Louis, where he earned all-state honors in three sports. He was offered a contract to play baseball by the St. Louis Browns but chose instead to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, on a basketball scholarship. He played for the Vanderbilt basketball team from 1953 to 1957 and graduated as the school’s career-leading scorer and rebounder. After earning a degree in business, he worked at Commerce Union Bank for nearly twenty-five years, retiring as Vice President in charge of personal banking. In 1986, he became president of Northumberland Development Corporation, serving until 1990.
Throughout his life, Bobby demonstrated a deep passion for golf. After retirement, he played almost daily and eventually shot his age at 71. Former Belle Meade golf professional Willie Gibbons remarked during this time that “Bobby had two tough decisions to make: walk or ride, scrambled or fried.” Bobby also played in numerous Music City USA Pro-Celebrity Golf Tournaments and attended the Masters and other professional events on many occasions.
Bobby is mourned by Robert H. Thym Jr. and his wife Katherine of Nashville, and his daughter Mary McGee Lyell and her husband Billy Lyell, both of Nashville. His stepchildren cherish him: Lisa Groce and her husband Christopher Groce of Knoxville; Mark Creswell and his wife Denise Creswell of Nashville; Joseph Branham and his husband Tom Kraft of Franklin, TN; and Elizabeth Lochmoeller and her husband Bill Lochmoeller of St. Louis, MO.
His legacy lives on through Jackson Lyell, Eliott Lyell, Ann Winston Thym, Preston Thym, Lettie Thym, Judson Groce, Kathleen Groce Powers and her husband Spence Powers, Hannah Creswell Guth and her husband Alex Guth, Graham Creswell, Maggie Lochmoeller, Lucy Lochmoeller, Luke Lochmoeller, and Rachel Branham-Kraft. His family includes great-grandchildren Evan Guth, Lawson Guth, Branham Powers, and Vella Powers. He is also survived by his sister, Ginny Clements of Tucson, AZ.
Known as “Bobbo” by his grandchildren, Bobby was deeply loved by his entire family and the many friends he made throughout his life. Comments on social media after the announcement of his passing described him as “kind” and “a true gentleman.” His stepson Joe Branham said, “He was a super ‘genuinely’ nice guy… and I loved cooking for them (Bobbo and Sally).” His son Bobby remembers, “how he gave me the freedom to be the person I chose to be without judgment.” He will be missed by all who knew him.
A Celebration of Life Reception in Honor of Bobby Thym will take place at Hillwood Country Club from 4:00-6:00 pm on July 1, 2025.
Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Heart of Mary House of Nashville in honor of Bobby Thym. Their web address is https://heartofmaryhouse.org/support/, and their phone number is 615.504.8542.
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