James Earl Thomas

James Earl Thomas (known by many as "Buzz") was born in Princeton, KY, the last of 8 children, to Lewis and Ada Thomas. (He just knew they saved the best for last!) He died January 11, 2015 in Norman, OK.



He attended schools in Princeton and graduated from Caldwell County High School. Upon graduating from high school on Friday night, Buzz enlisted in the Air Force the following Monday morning and began his military career. In high school, he was known as Jimmy. However, when his bunk mates heard him snore, they quickly changed his name to "Buzz" because he sounded like a buzz-saw!






While stationed at England Air Force Base in Alexandria, LA, he and some of his friends went into the local Sears store and found Vera working at the candy counter. She was attending Louisiana Baptist College and about a year later they were married on June 1, 1963. They celebrated their 51st anniversary this year.



During Buzz' 24 years in the Air Force, he worked in aircraft maintenance; was a technician as well as an instructor in the Precision Measurement Equipment Lab (PMEL); a maintenance officer on several crash investigations as well as many other assignments in the fields of avionics and electronics. The main reason Buzz joined the Air Force was to continue his education. After nine years of night classes, he was allowed to finish his last year of college full time and upon graduation was commissioned as an officer. Over a period of years, he finished his master's degree in counseling and guidance and needed only 3 more hours to finish a master's degree in physics. He loved to do research and that was very evident in his military & civilian careers as well as his hobby of stamp collecting.






After serving on bases from Florida to Alaska for 24 years, Buzz retired and started a new career with TRW Defense Sector in Midwest City. The family moved to Edmond and quickly found their new church home at Edmond's First Baptist Church. Buzz loved the Lord with all his heart and was a servant. For many years he served as a greeter and usher and even provided transportation for members living at Tealridge to our worship services. Buzz and kids had a very special bond. He was often called upon to be a "rocking chair motor" for little ones in the nursery.






Buzz is survived by his wife of 51 years, Vera; their daughter Donna Ray and husband Frank of Mobile, AL; son, Mark, of Edmond; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Glenn, Don Owen, Bill & Kenneth Ray Thomas; as well as his sisters, Carol Jackson, Lillian Taylor, and Gracie Pearl Thomas.




Graveside Services will be held on Saturday January 17,2015 at11:00 a.m. at Alta Vista Cemetery

Rev. Jerry Gill will officate

Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel in charge of arrangements

989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Ga 30501 Ph.770-297-6200

online condolances may be made at memorialparkfuneralhomes.com