James Winston Thurman, age 70, of Chesterfield, MO., passed away on January 25, 2014, at his home after a brief fight with cancer. He was born September 22, 1943, in Marshall, MO. to Ewell S. and Katherine (Arend) Thurman.

He graduated from Clayton High School in St. Louis, MO. in 1961 and received his B.S. Degree in Business Administration in1966 from Southwest Missouri State University (Missouri State University) in Springfield, MO. While deciding on his career he was privileged to have worked as Campaign Manager for a U.S. Congressman from Missouri during the 1966 Election. He married Gail Ann Snyder of Monett on October 7, 1966 and after relocating to St. Louis, MO., he joined the Southwestern Bell Traffic Dept. and supervised over 300 telephone operators in three long distance and information assistance units including the only Teletype assistance unit in the company. In 1970, Jim left SWBT to work as Controller for Peckham-Guyton Architects and also joined the investment group of K.W. Chambers where he later became partner and held the title of Vice President/Secretary.

In the early 1970’s Jim found his calling in life when a friend reached out to ask him to assist with the Presbyterian Children’s Services as a financial investment advisor. While there, he worked his way up the ladder to various positions as Treasurer, Director of Development, Associate Executive Director of Finance, Executive Vice President of Finance and eventually served for the past twenty years as President & Chief Executive Officer of Presbyterian Children’s Services, Inc. (also called Presbyterian Children’s Services of Mid-America, Inc.). In 1987, Jim was honored by the National Association of Fund Raising Executives as the St. Louis Chapter’s “Fund Raiser of the Year”.

While CEO of PCHAS, he helped with the founding of Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Related Ministries, a professional association of Presbyterian Children’s Services Agencies and the name has now changed to Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. He was a member of The Missouri Child Care Association (MCCA) as well as the Missouri Alliance for Children and Families. Upon his retiring in 2013, a retirement dinner was held honoring him for his 35 years plus of service to the Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services.

Jim was a lifetime Presbyterian acting as elder for the Richmond Heights Presbyterian Church in Richmond Heights, MO., and an active elder at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Ballwin, MO. and has served the Presbytery of Giddings Lovejoy in numerous capacities including being their Treasurer for 13 years and Moderator of Giddings Lovejoy Presbytery in 2002.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, his father, mother and father-in-law, Frank and Francis Snyder (formerly of Monett) and a nephew, Timothy J. Schoen.

Jim is survived by his wife, Gail, of the home; a daughter, Cindy Springer of Webster Groves, MO. and son-in-law, John Springer along with three grandchildren Jimmy Springer, Natalie Springer and Matthew Springer; a son, Christopher Thurman of Ballwin, MO., and daughter-in-law Katie along with two grandchildren Janey Thurman and Nicholas Thurman; and one sister, Deborah (Thurman) Schoen and husband Stephen of Monett.

Memorial Services for James W. Thurman will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Ballwin, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Presbyterian Childrens’ Homes and Services, 1220 North Lindbergh, St. Louis, MO 63132, or online at www.pchas.org. or St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 601 Claymont Dr., Ballwin, MO. 63011, or BJC Hospice, 1935 Beltway Dr., St. Louis, MO. 63114 or online at www.bjchospice.org.