THROWER, James William Oct. 19, 1929 Mar. 26, 2018 James (Jim) William Thrower passed away peacefully at the age of 88 in Austin, Texas. Jim was born in Waco, Texas to Vela Exabelle (Sutton) Thrower and Webb Alvin Thrower just 10 days from the start of the Great Depression. Jim married Joyce Marjorie Hearsey in Ignace and moved to Austin, Texas. Joy was married to Jim for 55 years and they both raised their two sons, James (Jim) William Thrower, Jr., and Allen Ronald (Ron) Thrower. They were also deeply involved in the raising of their two grandchildren, Kate Leigh Thrower and Cole Hearsey Thrower, daughter and son of Ron & Gwyn Thrower. As a young teen, Jim and his younger brother Bobby provided for their family by stealing pecans from one farmer, selling those pecans for pennies to turn and buy a few rounds of .22 to then go shoot squirrel and rabbit to provide food on the table for their mother, their youngest brother, Allen, their sister, Peggy, and themselves. He went to 4 different high schools across Texas and graduated from Austin High School in 1947. Jim enlisted in the Navy for 3 years and proudly served on the U.S.S. Manchester (CL-83) during the Korean War. Thereafter, he served in the Army Reserves for 8 years having his brother Bobby reporting to him and Jim reporting to his father, Webb Thrower. Joy and Jim met in Canada in a true romance story. Jim, born in Waco and from the Austin area, was working for a pipeline company putting in a gas pipeline in Ontario. Joy worked as an operator for the telephone company at a time when the operator manually connected the calls to outside lines when the line became available. Jim would call to Corpus Christi, Texas for supplies or call home to his mother and the calls went through the operator in the small town of Ignace. While waiting for a line to open up to connect the call to Corpus Christi, young Ms. Hearsey and Mr. Thrower would chat for as much as an hour each time. Their relationship flourished and Jim proposed to Joy in 1957 and they were married on July 5, 1958. On October 3, 1958, they crossed the Pigeon River into the USA and settled in Austin, Texas. Having excelled in electronics in the Navy and a job at Balcones Research Center, Jim landed a job with IBM ultimately working as a field engineer for many years. After 26 years with IBM, he retired and Jim & Joy spent many miles on the road with their camper always returning to their home to stay deeply involved in the lives of their grandchildren, Kate and Cole. Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Joy, parents, Webb Alvin and Vela Exabelle Thrower, brothers Bobby Joe Thrower and wife Jackie, Woodrow Allen Thrower, sister Peggy Anada (Thrower) and husband Doug Thompson - all 4 brothers and sisters from Texas; brothers-in-law Joseph William Hearsey, Archibald Lloyd Hearsey, William Frederick Hearsey, Ronald Edgar Hearsey and wife Carole, sister-in-law Irene Grace (Hearsey) Bailey and husband Jim Bailey, nephew Leslie James Bailey, and William Kuzik - all from Canada; and. Jim and Joy survived by son Jim Jr. and wife Becky Cole, son Ron and wife Gwyn, brother-in-law Leslie Thomas Hearsey and wife Janet, sister-in-law Agnes Hearsey, nieces Sharlene (Bailey) Kuzik, Joanne (Hearsey) Misner and husband Don, Debbie (Hearsey) Kakagamic and husband Brian, nephews Brian Hearsey, and, Todd Hearsey and wife Tanya - all from Canada; sister-in-law Jeanie (Maus) Thrower, nephews Blake Thrower and wife Melinda, Daniel Thrower and wife Eden, Woodrow Thrower, Mark Thompson, and Matt Thompson, nieces Vikki (Thrower) Drennan and husband Tom, Kelly (Thrower) Brenner and husband Tom, Julie (Thompson) Brown and husband Steve, and the two best grandchildren Jim and Joy could possibly have in their life, Kate and Cole - all from the USA. Per his wishes, there will be services with immediate family only and his ashes will be buried together with Joy's in Austin. Both Jim and Joy will be missed by many. For those desiring, you may also access the online guest registry and obituary at www.wcfish.com.

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Published by Austin American-Statesman on Apr. 1, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for James THROWER

Sponsored by Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes and Cremation Services - North.

7 Entries

Sherry Rodriguez

April 5, 2018

I truly believe God puts in places where we need to be. When we moved to Austin in 1996 we moved next door to the Throwers. What a gift they were to me and my family. My parents lived in Missouri and Jim and Joy took me into their family. Jim and I had many conversations to solve the problems of the world including the city of Austin. We had many happy hours on their back patio. I loved all of the stories Jim had about his life. He was always there to lend an ear or an invite to go out to dinner, to attend the football games where his grandchildren marched in the band or watch the Longhorns or lend a helping hand. I loved his passion for reading and keeping up with current events. One of my favorite memories was one of the neighborhood Christmas gatherings at my house. My daughter Suzanne was our DJ and took requests for songs. Jim asked for a song and proceeded to dance with the love of his life JOY. I will never forget his thoughtfulness and compassion to others. He attended a few Christmas concerts with my family at our Church. Jim was a great singer and Joy and I would make a "joyful noise" since we sang "off key." Another neighbor and I enjoyed occasional outings to a restaurant with Jim. We agreed not to talk politics at those dinners. I was truly blessed to know Jim Thrower and I will miss him greatly.

Robin Melanson

April 3, 2018

I am so lucky to have known and worked with Jim for many years at IBM. He and I ended up on the same "career path" and did a few of the same jobs on the same teams. We were good buddies during that period. When my husband and kids wanted to travel to New Zealand for a few months, Jim was hired (after retirement) to take over my spot while I was gone! He enabled us to make that trip! What I loved was his humility and how much he loved to laugh and smile. That smile was always waiting on his face to break out!
My thanks goes to his family for sharing him with others and please know that many hold him in our hearts.

John Grooms

April 1, 2018

I would like to pay my respects to Jim, We got acquainted in Navy boot camp training and went to the Naval Electronics School together and then were classmate at the University of Texas Engineering School. We studied together and he was one of my best friends while at the university. My condolences go to the family as he was a great friend to me while we shared that part of our life.
John S, Grooms

Betty Grossman

March 31, 2018

We shared the same two lovely grandchildren and had lots to talk about over meals at the
Renaissance for several months. Miss you Jim.

Allyn Anderson

March 30, 2018

I can remember many memories of camping trips we all took with Jim, Joy and the boy's. One that comes to mind is the day we were all getting ready to leave a camp site. Jim was leading and we drove down the highway for at least 8 or was it 10 miles and stopped off the road. Thought Jim was having trouble so we all parked and went to see what was going on. Jim said that Joy liked the spot so he proceeded to his camper, got his and Joy's folding chair's out and set them up. The next thing he got out was his cooler, which he placed by his chair. We all looked at Jim and said, "What is going on". Jim said that this is where we are staying and we will leave in the morning. We all got our chairs and coolers and sat by the side of that road for the rest of the day and night. Never forget that time. That was the longest, shortest trip I have ever taken.
Allyn Anderson
Hutto, Texas

Melinda Thrower

March 30, 2018

Uncle Jim was one a great man, a man loved and admired by so many. He was a mentor to Blake, and was a second father to him taking him on adventures with Beb and Ron. I know when he got to heaven his family had a great family reunion! I always loved and admired his wood carvings. He undoubted got his art skills from his Mother. I will carry so many wonderful memories of our talks together. He is home again, those of us left behind will remember him with smiles and love.

Suzanne Rodriguez

March 29, 2018

Jim, you were the best neighbor and friend I could have asked for. I will always look up to you and Joy for the loving and welcoming people you were. Your memory will always be with us. We hope you're enjoying time with Joy again over a nice cold Milwaukee's Best. Cheers my friend.

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