James E. (Jim) Thomas, 84, of Hutchinson, Kan., died Monday, August 10, 1998, in his home. Until his retirement, Mr. Thomas was a millwright at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.'s Allenport Plant. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Hutchinson, and a former member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Castile. He also was a member of United Steelworkers of America. Mr. Thomas had resided in Hutchinson since 1997, moving from Florida. He had lived in Florida since 1985 after moving from Washington. On January 3, 1939, in Toledo, Ohio, he married Uliann Kovalchick, who survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Ruth J. Maxfield of Hutchinson; two brothers, Alex Thomas of Citrus Springs, Fla., and Frank Thomas of Lincoln Park, Mich.; five sisters, Margaret Thomas of Trenton, Mich., Emma Simcheck of Gainesville, Fla., Olga Harris of California, Ruth Hutchinson of Glendale, Ariz., and Jean Lowery of Phoenix, Ariz.; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Deceased are a son, James Thomas; two brothers, Paul and John Thomas; and a sister, Julia Ryska. Copyright ©1998 Observer Publishing Co.Last updated Wednesday, August 12, 1998James E. Thomas
Former member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church
He was born June 10, 1914, in Blainesburg, a son of Paul and Julia Nochta Thomas.