David L. Thurston's Obituary
David Lee Thurston, 84, of Athens, TX, passed peacefully from this world to his eternal home with Christ on April 4, 2024. David was born at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas, TX on July 16, 1939, to Robert Rivers Thurston and Amy Nell Stults Thurston. David's parents had deep roots in Dallas. Paternal grandparents were William Robert Thurston and Ertie Mae Rivers. Maternal grandparents were James Arthur Stults and Bessie Pearl Huffhines Stults Alix.
David was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, an infant brother, Paul Rivers Thurston, and his younger brother, Ross William Thurston (Sharon).
David is survived by his children, daughter, Lori Leggett (Russell), and son David Wayne Thurston, both of the Athens area, who shall cherish his memory forever. His grandchildren, Rachel Marie Leggett (Donald Churchill III), and David Carson Leggett, of McKinney, TX, considered their grandfather larger-than-life and will miss him greatly.
Work ethic was one of the first things David helped instill in his two kids at an early age. His favorite job, before becoming an entrepreneur, was with the Ben E. Keith Company in Dallas, where he worked for 15 years in their beverage division. He built long-lasting friendships with his clients and his co-workers and reminisced fondly about his experiences at Ben E. Keith for the remainder of his life. His second career was as a retailer and property owner in the Plano, TX area.
David left the North Texas area for beautiful East Texas over forty years ago and enjoyed the beauty of living a simple life at a slower pace on beautiful land.
For fun, David always enjoyed all things with a motor: classic cars, motorcycles, boats, and his RV. He loved to travel and was able to see much of the world and most, if not all, of the US. He raised cattle for years and even dabbled in racehorses for a short time. Most recently, he found his entertainment in telling stories of his youth growing up on McKinney Avenue and on Spring Valley Road, attending Ben Milam Elementary, and graduating from Richardson High School (Class of 1957). He also relished chatting with cousins on both the Stults and Thurston sides of the family and watching old westerns on television.
David's friends remember him as being generous to a fault, a man who knew where he stood on a matter - and so did you, and above all, a Patriot.
Visitation will be in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 2:00 PM. A memorial service will follow at 3:00 PM. David will be laid to rest in the Sunset Gardens section of Restland Cemetery near generations of relatives. Pallbearers will include Wayne Thurston, Tim Thurston, Russell Leggett, Carson Leggett, and Donald Churchill III.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to a veteran's or children's organization of your choice.
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