James Albert Thomas                    

 

James Albert (Tom) Thomas of Walnut Grove, MS passed away on July 21, 2012 at the age of 75 at the Kindred Hospital in Rome, GA.  Born on June 9, 1937, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mr. Thomas was the son of the late Betty Brown Thomas and Donald Campbell Thomas.  He served in the US Air Force at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska.  He was very patriotic and enjoyed discussing his military time with other military personnel, especially pilots, as he was a Flight Radio Operator on the C-47 Skytrain, affectionately known as the beloved Gooney Bird of WWII.  Airman Thomas also served as the Flight Radio Operator on the C-124 Globemaster.

Mr. Thomas was transferred to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS where he was an instructor.  Here he met his wife, Carolyn Jones.  The two married and built their home in Meridian, MS where Mr. Thomas was Staff Manager with Life of Georgia.  During his time at Life of Georgia, he received honors including Man of the Year and the Gold Top Walking Cane Award on several occasions.

In 1970, he and Carolyn moved to her home town of Walnut Grove, MS where they built a successful retail business, Thomas Discount, which served patrons for 35 years.  This business they built years ago continues to thrive today.

He leaves behind his wife, Carolyn Thomas, his daughter, Dr. Donna Thomas Moses and her husband, Ralph D. Moses of Carrollton, GA and his youngest brother, Rodney R. Thomas and his wife Carol of Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He is predeceased by his oldest brother, Donald B. Thomas of Topeka, Kansas.

A Memorial Service will take place in Mississippi prior to services here in Georgia.   The family will receive guests on Sunday, July 29, 2012, at Almon Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 PM.  Funeral Services will be held at The Chapel of Almon Funeral Home in Carrollton, GA on Monday, July 30, 2012 at 5:00PM.  Interment at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery in Carrollton, GA will follow.

As an alternative to flowers, the family requests that donations in Mr. Thomas’ name be made to the Carroll County Humane Society or to Gideons International.