Jackie (Jacqueline) Walls Thonn

On April 24, 2016 after a brief illness, beloved mother, grandmother and friend, Jackie Thonn passed into the arms of her loving Savior surrounded by her family.  Born on June 18, 1942 to Jean (Moore) Walls and Fred E Walls, Jackie grew up in Port Orchard, Washington, and graduated from South Kitsap High School.  She went on to earn BA from Central Washington University majoring in Education, Psychology, and Speech Therapy.  Following college, she worked as a home and hospital teacher for the Richland School district.  Jackie married David T. Thonn in 1972 and was blessed with two daughters, Beverly Kay and Barbara Lynn.  

In 1979, Jackie found a new way to reach kids, starting Thonn’s Bike Corral at her home in West Richland.  She built over 100 trikes and big wheels to donate to Head Start/Richland developmental preschools.  With new and used bikes, she helped parents get affordable bikes to the kids that needed them.  She trained teenagers how to build and maintain bikes, and encouraged them to further their education.  She especially enjoyed the challenge of helping disabled children discover the joy of bike riding.  She was a fixture at the BMX track where she was the cheerleader and pit crew for her daughters on race day.  Jackie helped start the movement to get helmets on kids in the Tri-Cities at bike rodeos.  After 14 years, she donated her bikes and tools to an outreach in Sunnyside for at risk youth. 

Jackie’s passion for bikes was matched only by her love of art.  Using pastels, charcoal, oil, or watercolor, Jackie beautifully used her art to express herself.  In retirement she was a frequent student in CBC art classes, where she forged many friendships.  She was also a skilled fisherman and cribbage player, and particularly enjoyed fishing in Alaska, Canada, and ponds near Burbank.  She had many beloved pets through the years and made sure the birds in her neighborhood were never hungry. 

Jackie was an entrepreneur, pioneer, and a follower of Christ.  She was wonderfully unique in the truest sense of the word, was deeply loved, and will be profoundly missed.  She is survived by her father, Fred E. Walls, her brother, Fred L. Walls (Fonda), her daughters Beverly (Massaro) Ueti of Pullman and Barbara (Jeff) Fehr of Chelan and 6 grandchildren Anna, Sarah, Rebecca, Jimmy, Sammy, and Peter. 

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 1:30 pm at the Grange Hall in Burbank, Washington (44 S. 4^th St., Burbank, WA).  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to BikeWorks.org (206)725-8867, or to a charity of your choice that reaches out to youth.   Arrangements by Einan’s (www.sunsetgardenstricities.com).