GREENFIELD, Mass. – Edwin C. “Ed” Thurston, 83, of 14 Frederick Road, Greenfield, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2005, at Health South in Ludlow. He was born Feb. 20, 1922, in Manchester, N.H., the son of the late Edwin C. and Alma (Goudreau) Thurston. He was raised and educated in Manchester, was a graduate of Manchester Schools and a graduate of Hebron Academy in Maine. He was proud to serve his country as an aviation radioman second class during World War II, receiving the World War II Victory Medal and the American Theatre campaign ribbon. After returning home, he worked as a police officer for a number of years with the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Dept. He later worked as the district sales manager for Sunshine Biscuits before retiring in 1985. He was a 30 year Greenfield resident and had previously lived in Northampton for many years. While he lived in Northampton he spent many years coaching Little League and American Legion baseball and high school baseball for St. Michael’s High School. He was a life member of the Northampton Lodge of Elks BPOE No. 997 and a member of the Masons. From Ed’s marriage to the late Anne (Barry) Thurston he is survived by three children, Donna Thurston of Southampton, Mass., Dianne Thurston of Manchester, Conn. and Edwin F. Thurston and his wife, Judie, of Monson, Mass. From his marriage to Carol (Nelson) Thurston of Greenfield two children survive him, Edwin “Chip” Thurston of Greenfield, Mass. and Julie McKown and her husband, Scott, of Cohoes, N.Y. He also leaves his grandchildren, Craig Ryan and his wife, Barbara, of Louisville, Ky., Anne Elizabeth Sauve and her husband, James, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Scott Thurston and Derrick Thurston of Monson, Mass.; as well as his two beloved great-grandchildren, Hannah Sauve and Kaelyn Sauve of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; and his nieces and nephews, as well as his good friends in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. He owned a hunting camp in Parkman, and spent many winters there during season with his children and grandchildren, where he leaves an extended “family” of his hunting buddies. Throughout his life, Ed enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid sports enthusiast. He will be sorely missed. Funeral services and burial will be private. There are no calling hours. Donations in Ed’s memory may be made to the Greenfield Fire Dept., 412 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301 or the Guilford Memorial Public Library, P.O. 177, Guilford, ME 04443. The Czelusniak Funeral Home of Northampton, Mass., has been entrusted with arrangements.
EDWIN C. ‘ED’ THURSTON
