Johnie Ruth Young Thomas
Johnie Ruth Young Thomas passed away peacefully in the hospital near her home in Hixson, Tennessee, on Saturday, May 25, 2019.
Johnie was born Oct. 20, 1940, to Archie T and Silas Dupree Young in Pocahontas, Selmer County, Tn. She attended Selmer High School where she played years of basketball and graduated with honors maintaining ‘A’ averages in all subjects for four years. Johnie was selected after graduation to be one of the participants in the Selmer Strawberry Festival. She worked at Sears in Memphis where she met her future husband Bobby Thomas, who was stationed at Millington Naval Air Station. Bobby was born in Jasper, Tn.
Johnie married Bobby on June 14, 1959, in Selmer. Shortly after they moved to Naval stations in Argentina and Newfoundland, where son, Victor, was born. Later, in Lexington Park, Md., their two sons, Sean and Steve, were born while Bobby participated in the Cuban Blockade.
Johnie moved on with the family to Naval stations in Puerto Rico, Memphis, and finally Norfolk where Bobby retired after three years on the USS America.
They moved to Hixson where Johnie worked for several years at Belk and Dillard's and eventually retired.
Johnie learned to and loved making quilts for family and various friends. She was a member of The Church of Christ on Thrasher Pike, Middle Valley.
She was preceded in death by her youngest son Sean K. Thomas, parents, Archie T. Young and Silas D. Young; brothers, William F. Young and Grady A. Young; sisters, Cora Lee Busby, Louise Kiestler, Minnie Fay Houston, Mona Janice Young and Vera Mae Boatman.
She is survived by her husband, Bobby who she was due to have their 60th wedding anniversary next month. She is also survived by her sons, Victor and Steven, brothers, Archie Fred Young and Robert L. Young, and sisters, Eva Jo Cox and Edith R. Leadford. She is also survived by three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel in Hixson from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, May 26. Services will be 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27, in the funeral home chapel.
Johnie will be interred at the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Bailey Avenue at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29.
Any donations may be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital in her honor.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
Johnie Ruth Young Thomas