Jack D. Thurston

Jack D. Thurston, 66, of New Castle, passed away Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at Henry County Hospital in New Castle following an extended illness. Jack was born May 31, 1944, in New Castle, the son of Kenneth M. and Bea Thurston. He was a 1962 graduate of Walter P. Chrysler Memorial High School (New Castle), attended Indiana University, and graduated from Ball State University in 1968. He was a Life Loyal member of Sigma Chi. He later earned his masters degree from Ball State University and received additional graduate credits from Northwestern University for his participation in a law education seminar in Chicago in 1975. Jack held a life area license in social studies, and taught high school government, United States and world history, psychology, law education, economics, sociology, and African-American studies. Jack taught in the Anderson Community Schools for 33 years, spending most of his career at Madison Heights High School and retiring from Anderson High School in 2001. In the 1980s, Jack was among the first teachers in Indiana to develop a fully automated system for computerized test-taking in his classroom. Jack was interested in amateur radio and held an Amateur Extra license. He also loved to travel, especially to Florida, and he enjoyed Ford Mustang convertibles, politics, educational issues, writing, and learning languages. Jack was a loyal friend and devoted mentor to his son James, who followed his father in the teaching profession. He is survived by his wife, Virginia (Bradley) Thurston; his son, James Thurston; and his mother, Bea Thurston all of New Castle; his aunts and uncles, Lena Guffey, Louise Carter and John (wife: Betty) Thurston all of New Castle, Gene (wife: Reba) Thurston of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jim (wife: Brenda) Thurston, Darrell (wife: Beverly) Thurston and Glen (wife: Barbara) Thurston all of New Castle, Murlene (husband: Russell) Pyles of Wayne County, KY. He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Thurston, and his grandparents, Murrell J. and Flora Mae Thurston and Bill and Alice Guffey. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 22, 2011 at Grace Baptist Church with Pastor Denny Neal officiating. Burial will follow in South Mound Cemetery West Lawn Addition. Friends may call from noon until the time of service Saturday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Political Science Department Ball State University, North Quadrangle Building (NQ), Room 240, Muncie, IN 47306. You may send the family a personal condolence at www.sprolesfamilycares.com. Sproles Family Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jack D. Thurston.

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Jack D. Thurston

May 31, 1944 - January 19, 2011