James Smith Thomas

James Smith Thomas, of Austin, Texas, passed away Friday, September 14th. He was 88 years old. Jim (or "Jamie" as he was known growing up) was born on November 13, 1923 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Theodore and Ester Thomas. He had one sister, Jody.

He attended Tabor Academy, where he came to love sailing. At Harvard he majored in economics, but often said his fondest memories surrounded playing flute there and listening to live classical music. He later went on to do graduate work at Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Jim met his future wife, Joan Lane, while vacationing in Paris, France. After marrying on Valentine's Day, they spent several years in Mexico and South America where Jim worked for CitiBank. They then returned to the States, settling in Greenwich, Connecticut, to raise their children. After several years at CitiBank's New York City headquarters, Jim transferred jobs to ITT, remaining in finance.

After retiring, he and Joan spent many enjoyable years traveling, visiting family, enjoying fine restaurants, and exploring museums in Europe. They also decided to move to Austin, Texas after their son single-handedly convinced all family members to relocate and gather there.

The church played an important part in Jim's life. He was an active member of the Episcopal Church and served on several church committees in Connecticut and Austin.

Although he had a very successful business life, both Jim and those who knew him well would say his true success was his personal warmth, his loving heart, and his generosity of time and spirit. He enjoyed golf, but played tennis more often because that is what his children liked to play; he learned to use a computer when he was seventy and taught computer classes to seniors when he was seventy-five. He loved cheese and singing in church and planning vacations, but most of all he loved his wife and children.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Joan, and his sister, Jody. He is survived by his three children: Jeff, Susan Battle, and Karen, his granddaughter, Clara, and his nephew, Felix.

Services will be held Saturday, September 29th at 2pm at St. David's Episcopal Church, 301 East 8th Street in Austin.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. David's Episcopal Church Foundation (301 E. 8th Street, Austin TX, 78701).

Obituary and guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com