Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Felix Thomason suffered a fatal heart attack after he and another deputy arrested two disorderly men for being drunk in public at a store on Highway 81.
Both men resisted arrest and assaulted the deputies before being subdued. Deputy Thomason collapsed as they arrived at the county jail in Jonesborough. He was transported to Memorial Hospital where he passed away.
The two prisoners were charged with drunk in public, resisting arrest, and assault.
Deputy Thomason was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the Washington County Sheriff's Office for several years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, three daughters, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-73DA52E9- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy, salute.nw. One record, 3 gates. Robert is one person.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Thomason served with the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jonesborough community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert Tilman Thomason served in the the United States military (1942â1945) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Robert Tilman Thomason is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In TN, 37 of 769 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.8% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Washington County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Tilman Thomason's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Tilman Thomason Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Tilman Thomason is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Military Service
Robert Tilman Thomason served in the U.S. Navy (1942–1945) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Robert Tilman Thomason’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Washington County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
