Edwin Thurston

SMSGT (ret) Edwin (Ed) Ray Thurston  ~ 1937-2022

Edwin (Ed) Thurston passed away with his wife and children by his side on November 29, 2022.

Ed was born August 5, 1937 in Mitchell County, Kansas to Howard and Myra Thurston. He grew up on a farm near Hunter, Kansas. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. It was there that he met the love of his life, Marlene Moser. This marriage was blessed with six children. Howard (Brenda), Bryan, Deborah, Bill (Tammy), Melanie (Steve) and Carolyn (Michael). He was also blessed with 16 grandchildren. Chad, Courtney, Eric, Jeff, Nick, Stephanie, Jennifer, Tyler, Jake, Kelsie, Garrett, Trevor, Alex, Marissa, Eli and Kord.  He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Jennifer. He also was blessed with 13  great grandchildren.

Ed served twenty years in the Air Force. He was stationed in Idaho, Morocco and Denver. He also served a year in Vietnam during the war where he was awarded the Bronze Star. In March of 1969, Ed was selected as Airman of the Year for the Major Command of ARPC. He was honored in Houston,Texas at the Air Force Convention. Ed retired in 1975 as a Senior Master Sergeant. After the military, he worked another twenty years for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For a short while afterwards he worked for Scandinavian Designs.

While stationed in Idaho, he was an avid fisherman and always looked “for the end of the road” when he was outdoors. When he moved to Colorado, he enjoyed hunting and recently took up golf. For all of his accomplishments he always said his family was his greatest.

Ed was a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church. During his retirement he delivered food from the food bank to homeless services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of St. Andrew  1525 Dallas St. Aurora, Co. 80010