Obituary of John I. Thomas

John Irvin Thomas Sr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior whom he served faithfully on August 13, 2012. John (Jack) Thomas was born in Grenloch, New Jersey on September 14, 1920 to Albert C. and Julia Y. Thomas. During his high school years Jack helped his father in the coal and ice business and was a star second baseman on the Glassboro High School baseball team. He married Katherine Emma Sides in October of 1942. Jack and Katherine had three children, John, Ruth and Evelyn. Particularly enjoyable during the child raising years were family vacations in August to South Jersey with time spent at Atlantic City and Ocean City. When time permitted Jack enjoyed photography, played softball on church teams, collected stamps and coins, played tennis, table tennis and golf, was interested in astronomy. During WWII Jack attended Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia and was ordained in 1945. During his pastoral career he served in Baptist churches in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey and finally Portland, Oregon beginning in 1976. In the early 1980s Jack resigned from the active pastorate and became a chaplain at Oregon Health Sciences University hospital. He and Katherine became members of Hinson Baptist Church in SE Portland. Retirement included several winters in Desert Hot Springs, CA, two Alaska cruises and enjoying grand children. Jack and Katherine moved to a retirement community in Woodburn, OR in 1993 and then to another one in Milwaukie, OR in 2003. Jack and Katherine had been married for 67 years when Katherine died in July of 2008. Jack is survived by his children, John Thomas Jr. (wife Connie)in Portland, Ruth Thomas in Vancouver, WA, Evelyn Blackwood in Lafayette, Indiana, his sister Dorothy Seagraves in Penns Grove, NJ, four grandchildren, Christina Ankeney (husband Geoff), Jennifer Nealon (husband Greg), Kevin Thomas and Rebekah Hardy (husband Dave) and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Albert X. Thomas and Richard E. Thomas. Remembrances may be given to Hinson Baptist Church. There will be a memorial service on Monday, August 20th at 2pm at Hinson Baptist Church. Service Information