Francis Hatherly Thurston

Col. Francis Hatherly Thurston, USMC Ret., age 85, of Tuscaloosa, died January 12, 2016, at Hospice of West Alabama. Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Friday, January 15, 2016, in the Garden of Prayer at Memory Hill Gardens with Pastor Jon Wiggins officiating and Memory Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Freida Thurston.Survivors include his wife, Jean Wise Thurston of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; daughter, Cynthia J. Slagle of Hanover, Pa.; sister, Miriam Butt of Columbus, Mo.; and grandchildren, Jeanea Slagle of Hanover, Pa., Jason Slagle of Hanover, Pa. and Nicholas Thurston of Tuscaloosa, Ala.Col. Francis Hatherly Thurston, USMS Ret., was born August 2, 1930 in Boston, Mass. to Dr. Herbert and Freida Thurston. Dr. Herbert Thurston accepted a position as a math professor at the University of Alabama bringing Francis and the family to Tuscaloosa, Ala.Growing up Francis enjoyed model airplanes and flying them in the field (next to Snow Hinton which is now apartments) across from the family home on Hargrove Road.Francis cherished his friendship with Manly Neighbors from childhood and both stayed friends throughout life. Numerous funny stories came out of that friendship.Pursuing aviation, Francis worked at the Tuscaloosa Airport when it was a grass field and rode the long distance to work on a Cushman motorcycle.Francis studied at the University of Alabama for 2 years prior to the age 18 but left to join the Marines to pursue his dreams of flying. Once Francis earned his wings, he went on to fly the iconic aircraft like the F4U Corsair, early jets prior to and during the Korean War. He was a Navy and Marine flight instructor at Pensacola NAS.Francis continued his career in the Marines through the Vietnam War. He flew A-4 Skyhawk, AD-4 SkyRaider and the L-19 Bird Dogs. On one occasion, he found some weeks later from the log book that the bird dog he had flown was hit by enemy fire.Francis met Col. John Minturn Verdi, USMC Ret., in the service and continued their friendship after retirement from the Marines. Col. Verdi was flying with Francis when his V tail Bonanza threw a rod and required an emergency landing in Selma, Alabama.Upon retiring from the USMC in 1975, Francis settled back into living in Tuscaloosa. He became a contract pilot forming his own company, FHT AIR.Francis was a trusted, dedicated and professional civilian pilot. He has flown for Warrior Drilling, Boone Newspapers, McAbee Construction, Phifer Wire, Bill Deloach, Randall Publishing and may others in the community.Francis loved his flying and took friends up often, documenting numerous flights with photos by his 1948 Beechcraft V-Tail Bonanza.Francis met his wife (Norma) Jean Wise while visiting the capital. A relationship ensued followed by marriage in 1955. Francis and Jean had a daughter, Cynthia Jo, in 1957.Marine life led to world travel for both Francis and the entire small family. For a period of time, they lived in Paris and traveled in Europe.Francis loved and looked out for both Jean and Cynthia. He was an excellent provider and worried over money making sure his wife would be well taken care upon his passing.Jean and Francis assumed guardianship of Nicholas Works in 1979. Francis was a good father and raised his grandson as his own. He included him in his love for flying and all things aviation.Francis was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and in the later years of his life became more active due to local friends in the church community.His memory will be cherished and more will be learned about his life and positive influence on his community and family as time goes on.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Hospice of West Alabama.