James “Jim” Raymond Kolp was born on August 10, 1940, and passed away on October 5, 2026.
He was born in Paducah, Kentucky, and grew up in Newport, Kentucky, with his mother, Martha, his father, Richard, his sister, Carol, and his twin brothers, Barry and Larry. He attended Newport High School, where he lettered in baseball all four years. Throughout his high school years, he also worked as a busboy at Frisch’s Big Boy.
Upon graduation, he continued working with the Big Boy Corporation and managed multiple locations throughout Northern Kentucky. He ultimately achieved the title of Chief Operating Officer and relocated to Texas to run the Kip's Big Boy chain. In his early forties, he retired from the Big Boy Corporation and bought his own family restaurant, Taffy’s, in Richardson, Texas. He owned Taffy’s for 15 years and received numerous accolades, including being recognized for having “The Best Pancakes in Dallas!”
Jim met the love of his life, Joan Suttmiller, in the early 1960s. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married on April 28, 1962. Jim and Joan couldn’t wait to start a family of their own, and their children meant the world to them. Their daughter, Julia Ann, was born on May 15, 1963, and their son, Scott Alan, followed on December 17, 1968.
Though they loved their children immensely, their favorite role was being Pa and Ma Kolp. Jim treasured his time with his grandkids and loved family gatherings, baseball games, school recitals, and family vacations—he never missed a single one! He was fiercely proud of his grandkids, Jake, Sam, Garrett, Dillon, and Sydney, and his great-grandchildren, Eliza and Olivia. They were the light of his life, and he never failed to let them know it.
Everyone knew that Jim loved sports, especially baseball. He grew up rooting for the Cincinnati Reds; in fact, his grandfather, Ray Kolp, pitched for them in the late 1920s and 1930s. Once Jim moved to Texas, he became an avid fan of both the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys. He loved talking smack with his grandsons when it came to Dallas sports!
Jim will always be remembered for his diligent work ethic, his high standards, his passion for what and whom he loved, his rough-and-tough exterior, and his very big heart. We couldn’t have asked for a more loving father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He will be missed every single day.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, Richard; his mother, Martha; his sister, Carol; his brothers, Larry and Barry; and his beloved wife, Joan. He is survived by his daughter, Julie, and her husband, Billy; his son, Scott, and his wife, Theresa; his grandsons, Jake (and wife Devyn), Sam (and wife Kayci), Garrett, and Dillon; his granddaughter, Sydney; his two great-granddaughters, Eliza and Olivia; as well as one niece and four nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Monday, October 19, 2026 at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Chapel 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.