Truman Hill Thurston

Truman Hill Thurston
Truman Hill Thurston

After living a full life of 97 years Truman Hill Thurston went to be with his Lord on September 30, 2020, in Amarillo, Texas with family by his side.

Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 9, 2020, at Llano Cemetery.  Arrangements are with Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

He was born on April 14, 1923, in Fort Smith, Arkansas to James Grady and Hannah Rachel Thurston.  After traveling around for several years, the family settled in Amarillo, Texas.  When he was in sixth grade, he spent time in a hospital quarantined for treatment of tuberculosis.  It was during this time that he was able to learn more about aviation through the building of models and reading.  He graduated from Amarillo High School and worked for the Santa Fe Railroad until he joined the Army Air Corp and served in WWII and was proud of his service which included time in the Reserves both active and inactive until 1968.

After WWII he returned to Amarillo and went back to work for the Santa Fe Railroad.  In 1946 he married Nadine Swift and together they raised three children, David, Linda, and Carol.  During this time, he was an active member of Washington Avenue Christian Church and spent time during the summers working at El Porvenir Camp helping to maintain the buildings and other odd jobs and spending time with his family.

After his retirement from Santa Fe, he and his wife Norma made their home in Hereford and were very active members of the Hereford Senior Citizens and traveled the country and their camper club and had many adventures.  After losing his wife, Norma, he moved back to Amarillo to be closer to family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Norma; his daughter, Carol Johnson; and three grandchildren, Benjamin Johnson, Drew Duval, and Catherine Best.

He is survived by his son, David Thurston and wife Linda; his daughter, Linda Brady and husband Charles; his stepdaughters, Barbara Kendall and husband Nelson, and Brenda Dixon and husband Glenn; seven grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-step-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to the Hereford Senior Citizens Association, 426 Ranger, Hereford, TX 79045; or El Porvenir Camp in care of Washington Avenue Christian Church.

One Reply to “Truman Hill Thurston”

  1. My condolences to all of the Thurston family. Truman was a member of Hereford Masonic Lodge #849, and gave freely of himself in bettering our Lodge. And, as stated in the obit, he and Mrs. Thurston were mainstays in the Senior Citizen’s center here for many years. He will be dearly missed.

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