Milton Stevenson “Steve” Thurston ’42

Dr. Milton Stevenson “Steve” Thurston ’42 of Salisbury, died July 1, 2006. After graduation from Davidson, he earned his D.D.S. from Emory University in 1950. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and received his pilot training at Craig Field, Ala. He flew C-47 planes in the Far East Air Service Command and was discharged with the rank of major in 1946. He practiced dentistry in Salisbury from 1950 until his retirement. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Salisbury, where he had served as an elder of the church. He was active in the Central N.C. Council of Boy Scouts of America and served on its executive board. He received the distinguished Silver Beaver Award in 1968 and received the James E. West Fellowship award, the highest honor a Boy Scout volunteer can receive. He also served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board for eight years and the Rowan County Board of Health. He was a past president of the Salisbury Rotary Club and had been a member since 1950. He received the first Senior Citizen of the Year Award of the Salisbury Rotary Club and also received a Paul Harris Fellowship Award. After his retirement, he worked with the Rotary International 3-H Dentistry Program in Hong Kong. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia Foster Thurston, who died October 3, 1981. Survivors include his wife, Linda McConnell Thurston, 637 Mahaley Ave., Salisbury, N.C. 28144, whom he married in 1982; two daughters, Lee Shugrue of Chapel Hill and Jenna Nash of Concord; a son, Asa Stevenson Thurston of Salisbury; two stepdaughters, Carrie Taylor and husband Eric of Cary, Disa Herring and husband Billy of Vilas; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and two sisters, Lucy Lowe of Greensboro and Geit Johnson of Statesville.