James Earl Thomas, 77, of Beaver Dam, passed away Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, at Professional Care Health and Rehab Center. He was born May 28, 1938, in Muhlenberg County to the late Robert “Buck” and Beatrice Jones Thomas.
He was a retired final inspector for Ford Motor Company and was a member of the United Auto Workers Local 551 for 31 years. He was also a member of the Ohio County Gun Club.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Allen; and a stepson, Jim Bob Brown.
Survivors include his wife, Mattie Christine “Molly” Thomas, of Beaver Dam; four sons, James Earl Thomas, II, and wife Debbie, of Merrillville, Ind., William Earl Thomas, of Cedar Lake, Ind., Eddie Allan Thomas, of Cedar Lake, Ind., and Paul Anthony Thomas and wife Leslie, of Gary, Ind.; one stepson, Bobby Joe Brown and wife Marie, of Franklin, Ky.; two stepdaughters, Vena Ray Cardwell and husband Clarence, of Morgantown, and Deborah Lynn James and husband Charlie, of Hartford; one brother, Rudy Thomas and wife JoAnn, of Cromwell; one sister, Anna Newman, of Dixon, Ky.; someone he thought of as a daughter, Shirley Hines, of Beaver Dam, six grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, nine stepgreat-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with Bro. Logan Leach officiating. Burial will be in Render Memorial Cemetery in McHenry. Friends may visit with the family from 3 p.m until 8 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. until the time of Service Tuesday at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence can be made at: www.danksfuneralhome.com.