Daniel Ross Thurman

THURMAN, Daniel R. Age 92 of Hermitage, TN, entered The Lord's - Rest on July 5, 2011 (at 9 a.m.), at the Alvin C. York, Veterans Facility in Murfreesboro, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife (1998), Mrs. Helen L. Thurman (Nashville, TN); oldest brother, Mr. James Houston Thurman (Nashville, TN); Mr. Walter Jack Thurman, (Chattanooga, TN), Miss Evelyn Thurman, (Nashville, TN); parents, Mr. Walter Montgomery Thurman and Mrs. Eva "Selby" Thurman, originally from Chattanooga, TN. Survived by his only son, Mr. David R. Thurman; niece, Mrs. Ruth Ann Thurman Whitson; nephews, Mr. Jimmy P. (Marian) Thurman (Murfreesboro, TN), Mr. Danny Joe (Gee) Thurman (Cross Plains, TN), Mr. Walter Jack Thurman of Kansas, Jimmy Thurman (Chattanooga, TN); and a host of other nieces and nephews; great-nieces & great-nephews, Mrs. Robin Whitson (Mark) Langlois, Mrs. Terry Whitson (Steve) Fralick, Mr. Scott (Pat) Whitson and Bobby (Danielle) Whitson of Nashville, TN. He was born June 28, 1919 in Chattanooga, TN. Mr. Thurman was raised in Rossville, GA (the city of Cherokee Chief, John Ross) prior to World War II. Mr. Thurman was "one" of the "first three" men to volunteer for the United States Army from the Volunteer State of Tennessee. These three men received capital city, notoriety, including an exclusive article with press coverage in The Tennessean Newspaper. A speech was given by the mayor of Nashville at Union (Train) Station and the U.S. Post Office, with a gift of one carton of cigarettes to each man before their departure by troop train to their designated army post. Mr. Dan Thurman was stationed at "Fort Ogelthorpe" in Rossville, GA in 1940. Mr. Thurman served in Troop F, C #28 Reg in the 6th Cavalry of the U. S. 3rd Army under General George S. Smith Patton; appointed (WWII) commander by General Dwight David Eisenhower. Prior to a battlefield commission of Sergeant, Mr. Thurman served as Combat Soldier Section Leader (No. 652) in the Battle of the Bulge "Bastogne, Belgium", "The Ardennes", The German "Rhineland", The "D-Day" Invasion, "Decision Day", June 6, 1944 at Normandy, France (The "5" Beach Invasion), ending the 6th cavalry advance of "op-orders" in Czechoslovakia. Mr. Thurman entered the U.S. Army on December 7, 1940 and was "Honorably Discharged" from military service on October 18, 1945 at Camp Atterbury, IN, where he was awarded the "EAME" Theater Ribbon with 5 Bronze Stars. Mr. Thurman married Miss Helen Louise Hoffman of Nashville, TN in December of 1945; employed by Jarman Shoe Corp (Genesco). In 1947, Mr. Dan Thurman was employed by the United States Postal Service in Nashville, TN, having retired with "forty-two" years of faithful service as a Tour #1. He was a Maintenance Supervisor for thirty-seven years of civil service, and five years of military service. Mr. Dan Thurman was a "Deacon" at Eastland Baptist Church, Pastors Mr. Don Pinson and Mr. Hayward Highful (50's) and Gallatin Road Baptist Church, Pastor Mr. W. W. Harrison (60's). Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9th at Hermitage Funeral Home, with Rev. H. R. Langlois of New Life Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at Hermitage Mausoleums with Full Military Honors. Active Pallbearers: Mr. David R. Thurman, Mr. Mark Langlois, Mr. Scott Whitson, Mr. Bobby Whitson, Mr. Fred Hoffman and Mr. Wayne Dugger. Honorary Pallbearers: Mr. Robert L. Whitson, Mr. Don McQuery. Visitation with the family will by Friday, July 8th from 2 - 8 p.m. & Saturday, 10 - 11 a.m., at Hermitage Funeral Home, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN 37138. "Postscript" - Number 6: vs. 24 - 26, (24) "The Lord, bless you and keep you." (25) "The Lord, make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you." (26) "The Lord, lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Arrangements made by HERMITAGE FUNERAL HOME, (615) 889-0361. www.hermitagefh.com