Donald Thurston

Ky. Donald Fred Thurston, 79, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013 at Murray Calloway County Hospital. Mr. Thurston was born Nov. 27, 1934, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to the late Donald H. Thurston and Mary Elizabeth Smith Dalton. He retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, and served during the Vietnam War as a Chief Warrant officer. He was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, was a Mason, and had worked at the Murray Calloway County Hospital as a Security Guard, and attended the First Baptist Church of Murray. Survivors include his wife Hermalene Godfrey Thurston, of Murray, Ky., they married Dec. 7, 1953 in Rossville, Ga., It was love at first sight when Hermalene first saw Fred after his recruitment to the Rossville Georgia Bulldogs. Their subsequent marriage survived numerous moves with Fred's career in the U.S. Coast Guard with retirement in Murray, Ky. Their many friends fondly recall his generous and fun loving nature. Also surviving is one daughter, Vicki Anderson, of Murray; one son, Donald F. Thurston II, of St. Louis, Mo.; three sisters, Barbara Jean Walker, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sue Ellen Quimuyog and husband Regino, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Delores Lord, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two grandchildren, Pamela Anderson, of Murray, and Annette Kimball and husband Brian, of Honolulu, Ha.; also four great grandchildren, Aila and Penelope Kimball, both of Honolulu, Ha., Anderson Cates, of Nashville, Tenn., and Liam Fredrick Swain, of Murray. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded by his grandparents, Harry "Uncle Smitty" Smith and Annie Smith, also Charles H. and Laura Thurston; sister, Mary Alice Peterson; brother, Edgar Lee Dalton; also mother-in-law, Grace Godfrey. Funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home, Rev. Kerry Lambert will officiate, and burial with Military rites will be held Noon, at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, in Hopkinsville, Ky. Visitation will be held today from 4-8 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home, Masonic services will be held at 6 p.m. today. Expressions of sympathy may go to; Murray Calloway Co. Hospital Hospice House Building Fund 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Ky. 42071, of your favorite charity in memory of Mr. Thurston. Online condolences can be left at www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com