Virginia "Jinnie" Thomas

Jinnie Thomas was born Mary Virginia McGuire to Doris L. McGuire and Joe S McGuire in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Four years later, her brother Joel C. McGuire was born.

Jinnie was an avid reader, showing a love for many different subjects – art, music, geology, science, and history. She had a particular interest in Native American history, informed by her growing up in Osage County. She shared with her nephews and grandchildren the story of their great-grandfather, who moved to Pawhuska in 1898 to be the first Postmaster, a position he held because he spoke Osage fluently. She was loved by all, including Osage Indian Chief Fred Lookout, who ceremoniously adopted her. She was also proud that her father had been in the first Boy Scout Troup of America. Jinnie grew up dancing ballet, playing the piano, and caring for her pony. She graduated from Pawhuska High School in 1947 and was one of two women accepted to the Chemistry program at Oklahoma State University (then Oklahoma A&M). She pledged to Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, later sharing in the sisterhood with her granddaughter.

She met Jim Thomas, a Sigma Nu, and they were married on October 7, 1950. They moved to Casper, Wyoming, where their only daughter, Missy, was born. In Wyoming, she developed a keen interest in Geology. She always traveled with “Roadside Geology” books in the front seat. Jinnie, Jim, and Missy moved from Casper to Denver and then back to Tulsa for a short time. She was involved with the Episcopal Church wherever she was and volunteered in art galleries, Junior League, and many other organizations of interest to her. Jinnie loved to attend symphonies, ballets, and operas whenever possible. She was a member of Tulsa Shakespeare Club in Tulsa, reading everything he wrote multiple times. In 1974, she and Jim moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for seven years, where she taught herself Portuguese and immersed herself in Brazilian Culture. Later, they moved to Stamford, Connecticut, and retired to Tulsa. She traveled all over South America, Russia, England, Scotland, Austria, Portugal, Greece, and France. Jinnie and Jim spent ten days in Wyoming every summer with their good friends so Jim could backpack and she could hike, attend concerts, and eat good food with her friends.

Following her mother’s death, she and Jim moved to Walla Walla, WA, to be closer to her only daughter and two grandchildren.

Jinnie is survived by her daughter, Missy Newcom; her two grandchildren, Carolyn (Pete) Korfiatis and Thomas (Ellyn) Newcom; two great-grandsons, Nico and Nolan Korfiatis; and 15 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on March 1, 2024 (1:30 pm) at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival, Walla Walla Symphony, or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.