James Rodney Thomas

James Rodney Thomas, 81, of Dallas TX, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2024 surrounded by family.

Jim was born on May 23rd, 1943, in Fort Bragg, NC, to Lois Fowler and Rodney Adams. After the tragic death of his father during the D-Day invasion of WWII, Lois remarried to David Thomas, who adopted Jim and gave him the family name he proudly carried the rest of his life.

Jim earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, and married Victoria Chow Pangtay in 1964. He began his US Army career as a 2nd Lieutenant, proudly served in Korea and retired with the rank of Captain.

Following his military service, Jim and his family settled in Kansas City, Missouri, where Jim enjoyed a professional career with diverse experiences in a family roofing business, the US Postal Service and real-estate. One of his biggest accomplishments was the ownership and gentrification of a historic apartment building in Kansas City’s Union Hill area.

Jim’s grace and resilience dealing with Parkinson’s Disease in his later years was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He will be remembered for his creativity, intellectual curiosity, quick wit, generosity and thoughtfulness. Jim was a man of strong faith and deeply involved with his church community – choir, foreign missions and worship services at local nursing homes.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Lois and Rodney, and his adoptive father, David. His legacy lives on through his devoted wife of 60 years, Victoria, and his children: Walt and wife Kim, Elisa and husband Ian Maclean, Kathy and husband Mike Hart, Virginia and husband Eddy Burchell; his sisters Ann Crippen, Jan Harris and Marj Wake; his grandchildren Jared, Lauren, Brandon, Danny, Eric, Nicolas, Graeme, Olivia and Madison; his great-grandson Titus.

A celebration of Jim’s life will take place at Murphy Road Baptist Church on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 1pm. In lieu of flowers. The family kindly requests donations to Solid Rock India Christian Missionaries in Richardson, TX, a cause close to Jim’s heart (www.solidrockindia.com).