Edwin F. Thurston, “Mr. Ed” of Forestville, MD passed on July 24, 2018 at the age 94. Born in Springfield, MA, the son of Leola & Herbert Thurston. As a child, Ed moved to Alexandria, VA and then to Washington, DC. Just out of high school, Ed went to work for C & P Telephone Company. It wasn’t long before he was inducted into the US Navy in 1943. He served for almost 3 years and was recognized with the European Theater Ribbon, the Pacific Theater Ribbon and the American Theater Ribbon (these ribbons recognized those military service members who served during WWII in European, African, Middle Eastern and American countries). He was also awarded the Victory Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. The Philippine Liberation Medal recognized military service during the last eleven months of WWII when the military of Japan was driven from the Philippines before their surrender in September of 1945. He was honorably discharged in 1946. After his discharge, Ed went back to work for C & P Telephone Company and held a career which spanned 47 years. During that time he worked mainly on Andrews Airforce Base as a tech specialist for the Presidential Court, with a team of committed people who possessed the highest security clearance. Ed delivered exceptional service for many presidential administration. Ed’s first love was with his darling, Audrey Marie Jones. They met right after he was discharged and married soon after. They celebrated 71 years of marriage. Their daughter Debbie ran a childcare program for 40 years and together Ed and Audrey would spend every Thursday there with the children as Grandparents. His second love was his volunteer work with the Forestville Volunteer Fire Department. Ed was a Secretary Emeritus and Life Member for 45 years. For 42 years he served with the Fire Prevention program with the State of Maryland Fireman’s Association as Secretary Emeritus. During his spare time, Ed enjoyed waterfowl hunting with his son-in law, Mike. He also enjoyed time spent hunting deer at the Somerset Hunt Club. Ed also enjoyed fishing. Beloved husband of Audrey M. Thurston; devoted father of Terry Thurston and Sally Reed of Rehoboth Beach, DE, David Thurston and his wife Janet Thurston of Edgewater, FL and Debbie Elliott and her husband Mike Elliott of Prince Frederick, MD; daughter-in-law Sharon Thurston of Mechanicsville, MD. Loving grandfather of Melanie Polster and her husband Matthew, Terry Thurston Jr. “Bruiser” and his wife Cristina Thurston, Mason Thurston, Matt Thurston, Angela Elliott (Charles Wesley Johnson), Jason Elliott (Tiffany Brown), Megan Elliott (Spenser Madsen) and Mike Elliott, Jr. (Monica Simmons); dear great-grandfather of Jaxon Thurston, David Thurston, Aiden Johnson, Theresa Robinson, Ethan Elliott and Marcus Simmons. In Lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Ed may be directed to the Forestville Volunteer Fire Department, 8321 Old Marlboro Pike, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.
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