Donald Thurlow

A celebration of life for Donald “Don” Wray Thurlow, 74, Whitehouse, TX, will be Thursday, April 28, 2011, 6:30pm, Chapel of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Bro. Steve Ditemore will be officiating; burial DFW National Cemetery, Friday, April 29, 2011, 10:30am. Mr. Thurlow passed Sunday, April 24, at his home in Whitehouse. He was born September 1, 1936, Seattle, Washington, to Loyal & Jessie Stiles Thurlow. Don served in the US Army actively for 8 ½ years with tours in Korea and Japan as a helicopter line chief. At the time of his discharge, April, 1962, he served with the 501st Aviation Unit, Ft. Hood, TX. Enjoying many hours of flying, he earned his private pilot license, commercial and multi-engine rating. Don was employed by Braniff International, Dallas Love Field, DFW and Sea-Tac airports for a total of 16 years. He worked on the Boeing 767 flight line, Everett, WA; moving, again, to Greensboro, NC to work for Piedmont Airlines and US Airways until his retirement in 1998. Don and Mary Ann returned to Texas, 2005, where he enjoyed woodworking, reading Christian fiction, and the Bible. He enjoyed spending time with his family, grandchildren, and close friends. A member of Green Acres Baptist Church, Don loved participating in class discussions with the Seekers Sunday School Class. Don was preceded in death by: his father, Loyal Thurlow; his mother, Jessie Stiles Thurlow; his stepmother, Lettie Thurlow; brother, Howard Thurlow; and sister, Diana Thurlow Barros. He is survived by his loving family: Mary Ann Adams Thurlow, married 48 years; children: Jo Ann Thurlow Vick, (husband, William) Frisco, TX; Jay Alan Thurlow, (wife, Beverley) Kernersville, NC; Jeri Alice Thurlow Kazlow, (husband, Stuart) Whitehouse, TX; and Jill Aimee Thurlow Thomas, (husband, Mardel, deceased) Tyler, TX; siblings: Janet Thurlow Cleveland, Lynnwood, CA and Carolyn Thurlow Burke, Mountlake Terrace, WA; grandchildren: Ashley, Amber, Megan, and Micah Thurlow; Jordan and Jenna Vick; Andrew and Allison Kazlow; Cindy Lineberry and Timothy Thurlow. Pallbearers: Brian Sackett, Wayne Tiller, James Arant, Bob Freeman, Clifford Way, and Dick Selman. Honorary pallbearers: Tom Dickens and “Dub” Suggs. Visitation 5:30-6:30pm, Thursday, April 28, 2011, Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler, TX 75703. Memorials: Green Acres Baptist Church – Library; Green Acres Boy Scout Troop #370, 1607 Troup Hwy., Tyler, TX 75701; or, Legacy Hospice, 120 East South Town Dr., Suite 200, Tyler, TX 75703.

Donald Thurlow

September 1, 1926 - April 24, 2011