Lee Wright Thurston, 64, loving husband, father and grandfather, and friend to all who knew him, lived life with complete gusto. He died on his birthday October 29, 1994, allowing him to spend his 64th year with his loved ones on the other side.
His parents were Frank White and Orlean Wright Thurston. He married Irene Jones at Treasure Island, California. They were later divorced. He then married Helen Smith on December 2, 1977 in the Oakland LDS Temple.He never did anything ordinary. He was involved in Scouting for 40 years and was the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award. He was a Navy pilot in the Korean War and than a flight instructor in Penicola, Florida. He taught some of the first astronauts who landed on the moon to fly.
His acts of kindness and charity were unsurpassed. He loved the theater arts and appeared in plays, movies and documentaries. He was a great patriot and loved his country.
He spent the last 12 years of his life in his boyhood town of Manti where he worked as the town dentist, a profession he enjoyed. He is now reunited with his parents and brothers, Wright and John, and his beloved 11-year-old son, Jacob Val Thurston.
He is survived by his wife Helen and children, Tom of Connecticut; Ann, Leslie, Ted and Eric of California; Ron of Oregon, Patricia of Utah, Dane of New York, Suzan of Utah.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 2 at 1 p.m. in the Manti Stake Center. Friends may call at the stake center Tuesday evening, 6-8 p.m. Burial will be in the Manti City Cemetery under the direction of Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Salina and Richfield.
"We hope you have a great flight, Fly Boy. Those of us who are still grounded will miss you."
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