James Lynn Thomas peacefully went home to be with the Lord at his home on June 3, 2024. We find joy in knowing he is in heaven with his Savior and reunited with the love of his life and wife of forty years, Darlene Valerio Thomas.
Jim was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 29, 1947 to Warren Thomas and Nita McClintock. He moved to Orlando, Florida during his junior high years. He married Darlene in 1966 and soon joined the army serving his country during the Vietnam War.
After returning, he worked with Raytheon in Saudi Arabia, and later sold insurance in Orlando until he came to a saving faith in 1976. He was called into the ministry, and God allowed him to serve as an assistant and senior pastor for over thirty-three years.
Jim retired in 2011 staying active serving in mission work and pulpit fill for the remainder of his life. His heart’s devotion was ministering to the church and orphanage in Fauche, Haiti. His life verses are Psalm 73:25–26, “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none on earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.”
He is survived by his brother, Charles Thomas, of Apopka; brother-in-law Tony Valerio and wife Theresa, his three children, Tracie and husband Joel Bauman of Avoca, Wisconsin, Stephen and wife Jennifer Thomas of Pensacola, Florida, and Kelly and husband Donny Rice of Orlando, Florida; and his cherubs – ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Shelby and husband Peter Nankey, Sophia and husband Levi Winter, Matthew Bauman, Madeline Thomas, Anna Thomas, Lindsay Thomas, Abigail Rice, Donald Rice II, Emma Rice, Isabella Darlene Rice, and Erika, James, and Evelyn Nankey.