Name:
James E. "Jet" Thomas
Date:
October 16th, 1953 - June 7th, 2010
Obituary:
The son and brother of Bluffton residents, James E. “Jet” Thomas, 56, of Elgin, Ill., died at 4:57 p.m. Monday, June 7, 2010, at Rosewood Nursing Care of Elgin. Mr. Thomas was born in Anderson on Oct. 16, 1953, to James E. Thomas Sr., and Verna May (VanEmon) Ross. A 1972 graduate of Bluffton High School, Mr. Thomas played in the band during his high school years. He worked at the Red Cross in Bluffton and Tonka in Fort Wayne while completing training in electronics at ITT Tech. He moved to Illinois in 1974. He worked for Motorola Inc. in Arlington Heights for 30 years. He was the Senior Product Designer of Strategic Operations of the Cellular Infrastructure Division of Motorola Inc. He was a former Masonic Lodge Member. Mr. Thomas is survived by his companion, Denise Lederle of Elgin, Ill., who cared for him during his three year illness, and her son Ismael Vasquez, also of Elgin, Ill. He is also survived by his mother, of Bluffton; one sister, Julia (Kevin) Taylor, of Bluffton; two brothers, John R. Thomas and David Ross, both of Bluffton; one step brother, Skip Ross of Bluffton; and one step sister, Dreama Hamilton of Alexandria. He was preceded in death by his father; one step sister, Vicky Miller; one half-sister, Jerris Thomas; and one nephew, Logan Ross. Calling hours will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Thoma/Rich, Chaney and Lemler Funeral Home, 308 W. Washington St., Bluffton. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Bud Abrams officiating. Burial is at Six Mile Cemetery, in Bluffton. Online condolences: www.thomarich.com.

Cemetery:
Six Mile Cemetery
4790 Se State Road 116
Bluffton, IN 46714 (map/driving directions)
Visitations:
10:00AM to 3:00PM on Saturday, June 12th, 2010 at Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home (map/driving directions)

Services:
3:00PM at Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home on Saturday, June 12th, 2010 (map/driving directions)