James Thornton Maxwell's Obituary
James Thornton (Jim) Maxwell was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on May 28, 1932, to Virginia Lomax Maxwell and Carroll Homer Maxwell. He passed away in Dallas on July 10, 2025; he was 93 years old.
As a youngster, he moved to Dallas with his family and attended Walnut Hill Elementary School. The family moved to University Park, and he graduated from Highland Park High School. He attended SMU and went on to earn a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from SMU in 1954. He married Lucretia Cathey on December 3, 1954.
He was the consummate entrepreneur. He founded several businesses with his brother Carroll Maxwell: Maxwell Electronics Corp., KMEC Channel 33, and Central Systems. Later in his career, he changed direction and created Insurance Depot. Until just two years prior to his death, he lived in the spacious family home that he designed and had built in 1966.
He loved the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado; both their quiet beauty and their cool summers. He was interested in anything relating to science and read many periodicals in various related fields. In later years, he greatly enjoyed visits from family members, especially the toddlers.
He was pre-deceased by his wife, Lucretia Cathey Maxwell. Jim was survived by four children and their spouses: Lisa & Greg Steible, Doug & Kelley Maxwell, Molly & Todd Ridley and John & Holly Maxwell, all of Dallas, and was Grandpapa to nine grandchildren: Victoria (Steible) Rohde & Brandon, Kendra & Gregory Steible, Riley & Chandler Maxwell, Casey Maxwell, Mary-Todd Ridley, Henry Ridley, Cedar Maxwell, Pace Maxwell and Emmylou Maxwell, and Great Grandpapa to seven great grandchildren: Lydia Allison Steible, David Gregory Steible, Hannah Rosalee Steible, Wyatt Leigh Rohde, Cooper Lee Rohde, Carter Grace Maxwell and Brooks Douglas Maxwell.
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