Colonel Russell E. Thoburn, USAF, Retired

Russell E. Thoburn, Colonel, US Air Force, Retired died Thursday, May 17th, 2018 at 10:00pm in Castle Rock, Colorado at the age 86. He is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Parker and her husband James Feltis, and Sandra Shepherd and her husband H. Preston Shepherd, Jr.; a son, Robert F. Thoburn; three granddaughters and four great grandchildren; and a sister, Agnes Mae Cox. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Margaret V. Kurtzer Thoburn; his father Forrest Alexander Thoburn, his mother Beulah Roberts Pryor Thoburn, and his brother Richard Forrest Thoburn. Russ was born December 8, 1931 in Colerain, Ohio. He attended Colerain Elementary School and Martins Ferry High School in Ohio. In high school he was a standout runner in track, setting an Ohio district record in the mile run and freshman half mile record in the Ohio Valley. He was the starting center on the 1948 undefeated football team. He received a BS in Education from West Virginia University where he ran distant races in track and cross country, and was selected three times on the all Southern Conference Cross Country team. He was Captain of the cross country team and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. After college, he entered pilot training with the Air Force, graduating as an F-86 fighter pilot. His first duty assignment was at the newly established Air Force Academy at Lowry Air Force Base. He and other officers, airmen, and civilians trained the first three classes of the Academy before the Academy moved to its new home in Colorado Springs. He coached the first Air Force Academy cross country team that competed in intercollegiate athletics. During his 30 years of service, he and his wife Margaret and their three children had duty assignments in Colorado, South Carolina, France, Germany, Alabama, California, Rhode Island, Idaho, New Mexico, Ohio, and Virginia. During this time, Russ also had assignments in Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand (twice). He was a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Naval War College, and the Air War College. He received a Masters Degree in Management from George Washington University. Other key Air Force assignments were as Wing Commander (F-111s), Vice Division Commander, Professor of Aerospace Studies at Miami University in Ohio, and Director of Doctrine and Strategy at the Air War College. During his career he flew 186 combat missions in Vietnam. His awards and decorations include Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. His flying career included 3,400 hours flying the following aircraft: L-21, T-6, T-28, T-33, T-39, F-86A/E/F, RF/F-101, F-111A/D/F. He retired from the Air Force in 1983 with the rank of Colonel and spent ten years as an Airport Operations Manager at Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado. After his full retirement he was a volunteer teaching computers to seniors and reading to third grade students in Aurora, Colorado. He was a member of the Military Officer Association, and the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association (River Rats). He was a strong man of faith and loved reading God’s Word. He was a member of the Castle Rock House Church and his faith remained strong until the end. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Horan & McConaty Family Chapel 5303 E. County Line Rd. Centennial, Colorado. Memorial Service on Friday, June 8, 2018 at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.