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Obituaries

Obituary for William James (Bill) Thurston William James (Bill) Thurston
Former MeadWestvaco Research Department Employee Was Huge Highlands Area Supporter

William James (Bill) Thurston, 85, of 2820 S. Gum Ave., Covington, Virginia, died Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor.

Mr. Thurston was born October 29, 1928 in Selma, a son of the late Marion and Carrie Logan Thurston.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Larry Gene Thurston, in 2009, two brothers, Richard "Dick" Thurston, Thomas "Tommy" Thurston, and one sister, Virginia Smith.

Bill enlisted with the United States Navy when he was only 17. He was very proud to have served his country and remained a proud patriotic veteran and American citizen. He retired from the Research Department of MeadWestvaco in 1994 after 46 years of service.

Mr. Thurston was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church for most of his life, later attending Calvary Baptist Church.

Among a few of the passions in his life were being a people person and a huge supporter of the Alleghany Highlands Community. He was a Civitan Club member and Chairman of the 1976 Bicentennial Organization.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Mildred Jennings Thurston, of Covington; his daughter, Brenda Thurston Brinkley and her husband, Jack, of Roanoke; one granddaughter, Erin Thurston, of Vinton; one brother-in-law, James "Smitty" Smith Sr., of Selma; a number of nieces and nephews, including Charlotte Taylor, of Clifton Forge and Beverly Parcham, of Northern Virginia; a nephew, James Smith Jr., of Selma and a special friend, Sam Arrington, of Covington.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dean Bowser officiating and assisted by Dr. Darryl Crim.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time. The internment will follow at Alleghany Memorial Park.

In Mr. Thurston's honor, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Mt. Regional Hospice, P. O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, VA 24422, The Woodlands Activity Fund, 1000 Fairview Ave., Clifton Forge, VA 24422, or to the Volunteer Auxillary Fund, Attn: Betty Clinedinst, 1 ARH Lane, Low Moor, VA 24457.

The online guest book is at www.arrittfuneralhome.com.