James E Thode, of Kirtland NM, was born in Show Low, AZ September 27, 1965 and grew up in Tucson, AZ, graduating from Catalina Magnet High School and the University of Arizona.
He enjoyed the outdoors and was a family man.
"As a kid, Jim learned to shoot a BB gun accurately. He shot that until we finally took him to the range, and then he learned how to handle a rifle. He was a big, quiet man at 6-2, and 240 pounds, but he was a warrior. He felt it was his job to straighten out the problems of the world. I told him he could've retired, but he insisted that these young kids needed someone to take them to war and help keep things together. He never wanted to take a lot of credit for what he did." Ernest Thode, father.
"He was well-respected. He was a great friend. He was a great leader. He had all those qualities that you would look for in someone." Lt Daryl Noon, Farmington PD.
He enlisted in 1984 and joined the Utah National Guard in 2002. He served during Desert Storm and in Iraqi Freedom (June 2003). He was assigned to 1457th Engineer Battalion, 204th MEB, Salt Lake City, Utah National Guard.
He is survived by wife Carlotta, daughter Ashley, and son Tommy, mother Eve Taylor and husband Ron, father Ernest Thode and sister Mary. He was laid to rest at Memory Gardens in Farmington, NM.
If you knew James Thode personally and have stories to share of His Honor, of His Valor, of his life, please contact us, so we can update his article.