Arthur Roy Thulson

Arthur Roy Thulson, Jr., 91, died September 2 in Denver after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife Lorraine Johnson Thulson and their 5 children (and spouses): Stephen (Darlene), Mark (Gaile), James (Kristina), Peter (Anne), and Kristine Stevenson (Alan); by 17 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; and by his brother, Allen Thulson. He was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth (Bettye) Poole and his brother, Kenneth Thulson. Roy was born February 8, 1922 to Arthur and Bertha Thulson of Denver. After graduating from West High School, Roy enlisted in 1941 and served as an army medic during World War II, first on Corregidor Island in the Philippines, then as a Prisoner of War in camps in the Philippines and Japan. Roy found changes when he returned after the war. He learned that his sister Bettye had died in an accident on her honeymoon. He also noticed that ""a little girl at the church,"" Lorraine Johnson, had grown into a young woman, whom he courted and then married in 1950. Roy had a career as a photographer in the printing industry at A.B. Hirschfeld Press and the Denver Post and as a freelance photographer. Roy professed faith in Jesus Christ as a child. He was reared among immigrants in the Swedish Free Church (now the Evangelical Free Church). His father led the Denver church's Sunday School mission at Bethel Hall and Roy followed this example of service throughout his life. Roy's enduring faith in Christ, love of mercy, and self-effacing service formed a model for his children's lives and many others'. The growth of Roy's family was well documented. As teenagers, he and his best friend and late cousin John Hanson became avid photographers. New technologies fascinated him. He was an early adopter of countless gadgets and an inventive do-it-yourselfer, but cameras were his constant appendage. The resulting photo archive tells many stories. Most of all, it tells of a home that blessed his family and countless guests as a haven and school for their souls. He will be keenly missed as a loving husband, father, friend, and mentor. Roy will be buried at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in a private service. A public memorial service will be held to celebrate his life at 3:00 PM Saturday, September 7 at Centennial Covenant Church, 401 W. Mineral Avenue, Littleton. Gifts may be given to the church. Please share your memories of Roy and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook.