JAMES OSCAR THOMAS

Mtn. View – James Oscar Thomas, 88, passed away on July 19, 2005, at Pilgrim Haven rest home in Los Altos, California. He was the middle of five boys born April 24, 1917, in Malad, Idaho, to Rhoda and Clyde Thomas in Malad City, Idaho. Four preceded him in death; three of them in childhood.

Fatherless by the time he was five years old, Jim and his brothers managed the family farm as children. After graduating from UC Berkeley in 1941 with a degree in agricultural chemistry, Jim took a job with Pan American Airways on Guam Island. There he was captured by the Japanese navy just days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He spent the duration of Word (sic) War II in Japanese prison camps. He published his story of captivity in the book “Trapped With the Enemy.” His survival through many remarkable life challenges can be attributed in part to his well known sense of humor. Upon returning to the US he had a career in real estate appraisal. Working most recently as Vice President of Personnel at Home Savings and Washington Mutual.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara, of Mountain View, California; four children: Joan Rohlfs of Rockville, Maryland; Teresa Cooke of Greensborro, North Carolina; Christina Thomas of Spokane, Washington; James C. Thomas of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Foothills Congregational Church in Los Altos, California. Burial was in the Family Redwood Grove in Big Basin State Park, California.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the National Prisoner of War Museum. Write checks to “Andersonville Trust” and mail to P.O. Box 125, Andersonville, GA 31711.