WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Dareld E. Thurston, age 78, of Colon, passed away Thursday, July 30, 2009, at the Bronson Select Specialty Hospital in Kalamazoo.
Dareld was born Oct. 27, 1930, in Sherwood, a son to the late Melvin and Belva (Youngs) Thurston.
Dareld had lived most all of his life in the Sherwood and Colon area.
On July 18, 1953, he married Dorothy Bell Littlejohn in Sherwood. She preceded him in death on Aug. 11, 2008.
Dareld had served in the United States Marines Corps with Platoon 214 during the Korean War.
Dareld had worked at Douglas Manufacturing in Bronson, Eaton Corp. of Battle Creek, and retired from Ross Laboratories of Sturgis.
He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting and trapping.
He is survived by three children: Rick (Lori) Thurston of Colon, Rodney Thurston of Colon and Rhonda (Robert) Thoms of Sherwood; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Opal Davis of Union City; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by one great-grandson, Dillan Labo, and a sister, Jean Trine.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Dareld’s home at 59289 Long Lake Road in Colon.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Dareld E. Thurston will take place at 4 p.m. at his home, with Pastor Robert Baxtor and Mr. David J. Farrell officiating.
Cremation will follow and private interment of cremains will take place at a later date at Sherwood Cemetery.
If desired, the family suggest memorials be made in memory of Dareld to the West Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo. Envelopes will be available at his home or at the Schipper Funeral Home in Colon.
