Peggy Jones

Peggy Jones, 93, of Saratoga died Jan. 16.

Jones was a buyer for I. Magnin in San Francisco and Seattle. She moved to Saratoga in 1964 and became a real estate broker. She worked with Jack Purcell, Shelley Williams and Moser & Long, and brokered many homes in Saratoga. Jones remained active in real estate until the age of 91.

She is survived by distant cousins in Wilmington and Delaware, and many friends in the Bay Area and elsewhere.

Roy Kropff

Roy Kropff, 73, died Jan. 13.

Kropff was born in Hereford, Texas, and moved with his family to Gardena when he was 11 years old. He attended El Camino College and UC­Santa Barbara, earning his bachelor's degree, and attended USC, where he earned his master's. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1954 as an electronic technician for radar systems on aircraft carriers.

He married Linda Welch in 1957. In 1968, the couple and their two children moved to San Jose so he could work at De Anza College as an industrial arts instructor. In 1971 he began at Prospect High School in Saratoga, teaching woodshop and metal shop until 1987. After retirement, he worked as a volunteer for his church and also worked with the Sacred Heart organization, picking up food for the needy from grocery stores. In addition to woodworking, Kropff loved car shows and races, motorcycles, photography and the outdoors.

He is survived by his wife Linda Kropff of San Jose; his daughter Laura Latham and her husband Barry of San Jose; his son Rex Kropff of San Jose; his mother Annabel Kropff of Gilroy; his brother Jim Kropff and his wife Doris of Gilroy; his sister Ruth Marie Wolf and her husband Dave of Los Gatos; his sister Helen Moser and her husband Leo of Gilroy; his sister Kathryn Kellogg and her husband Larry of Salinas; his granddaughters Melinda Latham and Veronica Kropff of San Jose; his grandsons Blake Latham and Royce Kropff of San Jose; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Services were held on Jan. 29 at the Campbell United Methodist Church.

James H. Thomas

James H. Thomas, 74, formerly of Saratoga, died at his home in Pacific Grove on Jan. 14.

Thomas was born in Hackette, Ark., and was a U.S. Army veteran. He came to California in 1948, was married in 1950, and began his building career in 1954. He and his late wife, Glenna F. Thomas, a real estate broker in Santa Clara County, retired to Pacific Grove 12 years ago. Before coming to Pacific Grove, they lived in Saratoga for 27 years.

Thomas was the youngest of 10 children. He is survived by his wife Debbie Thomas; his son Randy D. Thomas; his twin grandchildren Trevor and Tara Thomas; his brother Harlon E. Thomas of Morgan Hill; and his sister Pauline Garner of Santa Cruz.