Lt. Col. David Burdette Thurlow, Ret. died peacefully Sunday, July 6, 2014, at Riverside Regional Medical Center, surrounded by his loving wife and family.
He resided in York County for 40 years after retiring from 20 years of service in the U.S. Army. One of his great passions in life was flying and he was a master aviator with over 5,000 hours of flying time. He served two tours in Vietnam and was especially honored to receive the Purple Heart Medal. He received numerous other medals during his career as well, including the Bronze Star for Valor.
He was a member of the Mt. Moriah Two Bridges Nahe Lodge No. 823 in Germany and a graduate of the University of Maine. He received two master’s degrees from Hampton University and an education specialist degree from Georgetown University. Throughout his life he was an avid reader, music lover and traveler. During his retirement years, he especially enjoyed playing musical instruments.
He was the son of the late Dwight and Thelma Thurlow, of Bangor, Maine.
He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 43 years, Patricia Burcher Thurlow; son, David (Kathy) Thurlow; daughter, Lisa Hydrick; stepdaughter, Denise (Jim) Parroco; brother, Dana (Georgia) Thurlow; and many grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday July, 14, 2014, at the chapel of Amory Funeral Home, Grafton. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Peninsula SPCA, 523 J Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.
Please leave online condolences for the family in the comment section below. Arrangements by Amory Funeral Home.
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