Irene M. Tharnish Thomas

Irene M. Tharnish Thomas Union Pacific Railroad employee. She was born in Creighton, Nebraska on October, 23 1925, the daughter of Julia and Ernest Tharnish. She worked as a Telegrapher as a ” Lighting Slinger” for Union Pacific Railroad from September 1943 to March 1946. Another part of her job was to deliver telegrams when they arrived. On one occasion she delivered and informed a family that their son had been Killed in Action.

Her Service History

Omaha Nebr. Electronic Radio Television Institute – Sept to December 1943, Cheyenne Wells Colo. – December 1943 to March 1944, Buffalo Park Kansas – March 1944, Atwood Colo. – March 1944, Hugh Colo. – April 1944, Carr Colo. – April 1944 to May 1944, Fort Collins Colo. June 1944, ILiff Colo. July 1944, Ogallah Kansas  – August to September 1944, Colby Kansas – September 1944, Zurich Kansas – September 1944, Studley Kansas – October 1944, Dent Colo. October 1944 to January 1945, Hugo Colo. January 1945,  Cheyenne Wells Colo. – February 1945, Hugo Colo February to March 1945, Nunn Colo – March 1945, St. Vrains Colo March to May 1945, Strasburg Colo. – May 1945, Deer Trail Colo – June to July 1945, Brighton Colo. –  July 1945, Deer Trail Colo – July 1945 – January 1946, Relief job number 3 – February and March 1946 in Deer trail Colo., Agate Colo., Strasburg Colo., and Bennett Colo.,

While working in Deer Trail, Colorado she met a returning service man Lieutenant JG (junior grade) Arthur Daniel Thomas, and they were married in 1946. She also worked for the US Census for several years later in life. Irene passed away on June 28, 2019 at the age of 93. 

 

 

1- Oral Histories with Irene M. Tharnish Thomas

2- Her 1940’s Scrap book