Ralph Thurston

DEXTER -- Ralph G. Thurston, 76, died Jan. 4, 2009, at his home.

Born July 5, 1932, in Bernie, son of the late Walter and Ora Deck Thurston, he was a retired engineer for local clothing manufacturers and a U.S. Army veteran.

On Oct. 5, 1979, at Bell City, he married Marge Heigle who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: two sons, Ralph Thurston Jr. and Paul Thurston; three daughters, Cindy, Becky and Pam; two brothers, Raymond Thurston of Boulder City, Nev., and George Thurston of Kennett; five sisters, Shirley Zimmerman of Bernie, Mary Norman and Melba Baker of Dexter, Helen Beauchamp of the state of Texas and Thelma Hartley of the state of Tennessee; and several grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Carl "Bud" Thurston.

Visitation is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday. Dr. Kevin Chenoweth will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.