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Note: Howard Robert (Bob) Thurston, 79, Port Orange, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, April 6, 2008. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on August 29, 1928. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served our country during the Korean War between 1951-1953. He was a longtime resident of Philadelphia, where he married his beloved wife of 45 years, Mary Jane, and together they have three daughters, Marie Elaina (Matt) Allard, Darlene (Scott) Piccola and Kimberly (Thomas) Martin. He had six grandchildren, Joshua, Justin, Kiernan, twin girls, Rylee and Karlee, and Peyton. Bob was married previously and had five children, Linda (Jeff) McAfee, Cindy Mock, Dorothy Thurston, Robert (Peggy) Thurston, Gary Thurston; ten grandchildren, Anthony, Roger, Courtney, Nicole, Bobby, Jeffrey, Brian, Jason, Jesicca and Marissa; and four great-grandchildren, Hiram, Haile, Keala, and a newborn grandson. He was preceded in his passing by his brothers, Jack, William, Frank, and his sister, Elaine. He is survived by his brothers, Raymond (Joyce) Thurston and Stanley Thurston. During his years in Philadelphia, he was employed with the New York Bagel Bakery. In 1979, he moved with his family to the Port Orange area and retired in 2006 from Volusia Repairs Fire & Home Restoration. He was a dedicated working man for most of his long life. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Anyone who met Bob was immediately struck by how much he loved his family and how proud he was of his beautiful wife and all of his daughters and how much each of them meant to him. His grandchildren were a prominent part of his everyday life. He was a caring and loving man with a heart of gold. Bob was a man of many words...and songs. His enjoyment in life was just being with his family and sharing in their everyday lives. He enjoyed music by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash, watching Western movies, football, and in his younger years he enjoyed horse racing. After moving to Florida, he became a NASCAR fan. Bob will be dearly missed by all of his family and his many friends. He will be admirably remembered for his unfailing loyalty to his family and his genuine caring and concerning nature. A memorial service will be held in his honor on Thursday, April 10, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Port Orange, 305 Dunlawton Avenue, Port Orange. Military funeral honors and interment will take place Friday, April 11, at 1 p.m. at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob's name to Hospice Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129. Published in the Daytona Beach News-Journal on 4/9/2008. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bob Thurston, 79, North Sea rescuer By JOHN F. MORRISON Philadelphia Daily News morrisj@@phillynews.com 215-854-5573 AN IMPENETRABLE fog clogged the North Sea that November of 1951, as the USS General M.L. Hersey was on its way to Bremerhaven, Germany, with elements of the 43rd Infantry Division. Suddenly, a rending crash rocked the troopship as it plowed into the Argentine cruise ship MS Maipo. Maipo sank three hours later, but while it foundered the crew of the Hersey and the soldiers aboard frantically sought to pull the 238 passengers of the Maipo to safety. Fortunately, everyone made it. There were no serious injuries. Among the rescuers was a Philadelphia soldier named Howard Robert Thurston. Bob Thurston served in the Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War, but he spent his time in Germany as a postmaster. He was born and raised in Philadelphia and spent 50 years here before moving to Florida in 1979. He died in his home in Port Orange, Fla., April 6 at the age of 79. Bob was born to John Edward Thurston and the former Marie Hipple. He attended Claghorn Elementary and Mastbaum High. In his early years, he was employed by Bond Bread, Harbison's Milk and later Virnelson's Bakery and the New York Bagel Bakery in Philadelphia. In Florida, he worked for Volusia Repairs Fire & Home Restoration. He retired in 2006. "He was a dependable working man his whole life," said his daughter Kimberly Martin. "He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. "Anyone who met Bob was immediately struck by how much he loved his family and how proud he was of his beautiful wife and all of his daughters and how much each of them meant to him." Bob enjoyed singing, and loved to sing to his three daughters. He was a fan of Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash, liked watching western movies and football. He was a big Dallas Cowboys fan. And after moving to Florida, took to NASCAR racing. He married the former Mary Jane Wotopka in 1963. Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by two other daughters, Marie Elaina Allard and Darlene Piccola; five children by a previous marriage - Linda McAfee, Cindy Mock, Dorothy Thurston, Robert and Gary Thurston; two brothers, Raymond and Stanley Thurston; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Services: Were held in Florida on April 10. *
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