OLDHAMS—William Jeremiah “Jerry” Thrift of Oldhams passed away on October 27, 2020, at age 82 following a long and courageous battle against Parkinson’s disease.
Jerry and his twin sister, Ann, were born on the family farm—White Castle Farm in Oldhams—to Lottie Neale Holliday Thrift and Samuel Russ Thrift. The little brother to four sisters, Jerry blossomed into the essence of humility and servanthood as a quiet gentleman of Westmoreland County.
After graduating from Westmoreland’s Cople High School, Jerry proudly served as USAF Airman First Class in 1608th CES Unified Command Military Air Transport Service (MATS) from 1961-1965, during which MATS resupplied Guantanamo Bay and Antarctic scientific stations. Jerry served the public for three decades through the USPS, ultimately serving as postmaster in Westmoreland County.
In his free time, Jerry partnered with neighbors to work his and their farms, operated telethon phone banks and hosted carnivals, served in the Tappahannock Lions Club, sang in the choirs of Tappahannock Memorial United Methodist Church and Ebenezer United Methodist Church (EUMC-Oldhams), and led EUMC as its treasurer for decades.
In December 1989, he married Katharine Pollard (Thrift) and transitioned into a rewarding retirement on the family farm.
Along with his wife, he is survived by his son, Wade Thrift (Donna) of Midlothian; his twin sister Ann T. Allison (Bill) of Carlisle, Pa.; sisters, Martha McAllister of Richmond, Mary Lou Stevenson of Boca Raton, Fla., and Willie Violett of Clifton; nieces; nephews; and stepchildren; step-grandchildren; and step-great-grandchildren.
Jerry was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Laura Anne Thrift.
The family will celebrate Jerry’s life with a EUMC graveside service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jerry’s memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate; Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Oldhams, https://www.eumcoldhams.org/donate.html; or Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center, Richmond, 371-8000.
