James (Jim) Edward Thomas May 12, 1934 – October 26, 2016. An Oakland Township resident of over 40 years, Jim passed away peacefully in his home with his wife at his side. 

Jim was born at home in Detroit, Michigan. He was one of four children born to the late John and Lorena Thomas. He is survived by Rena Thomas, his beloved wife of 56 years; his sister, Rosanna McQuaid of Dearborn; two sons, Tim and John Thomas; daughter-in-law, Karen Troshynski-Thomas; and five grandchildren, Jack, Simon, Clare, Norah and Keon Thomas. Jim was preceded in death by his brother Frank Thomas; and sister Doris Zelinski. 

Jim served in the Navy from 1953 to 1956, stationed first in California and then Hawaii. “I spent four years in the Navy,” he would sometimes muse, “without ever boarding a ship.” Let’s just say, he was always glad he took shorthand in high school.

 Thanks to the GI Bill, Jim enrolled in college when he returned home from the service. He first attended Henry Ford Community College and then Wayne State University, where he earned a BS in Business in 1962. It was there he discovered both a passion for writing and an aversion to mathematics. “The statistics professor came into class and said ‘good morning’,” Jim recalled, “and that was the last thing I understood.”

 Following graduation, Jim began a career in advertising. In his first job, he sold ad space for the Flint Journal. From there, he joined Stockwell-Marcuse, a small advertising agency in Southfield, where he helped name ‘Real Estate One’ and won a Clio Award in 1975 for an AAA commercial called ‘Travels with Charley.’

 Jim had a long, storied career in the Detroit advertising community. His longest tenure was at J. Walter Thompson, where he worked for over 30 years. In 1996, Jim retired from advertising which, in itself, is no small feat.

 After retiring, he and his wife Rena saw the world, traveling to such places as Scotland, Ireland, England, Turkey and Armenia. Jim loved gardening, golfing, reading and his family. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Among his many skills, suffering fools gladly was never a strong suit.

 Jim was a loving husband, father, friend and grandparent who will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed. His family will receive friends on November 2, 2016 at the SPARKS-GRIFFIN FUNERAL HOME, Lake Orion. A short service will follow at 6pm.

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