William Harry “Bill” Thurman passed away on July 30, 2018 at his home in Monroe, GA. He was born on April 1, 1926 in Memphis, TN to Ila Zenath Thurman. He was raised by his maternal aunt, Maybelle. He and Maybelle moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1932 to be near Ila; he always considered Cincinnati his home town. As a child of the Great Depression, Bill, like others, was sent to live at the Cincinnati Children’s Home. He also lived in various foster homes including the home of Charles and Vesper James who operated a dog kennel. This is where his love of dogs began.
Bill graduated from Withrow High School in Cincinnati in 1944 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Armed Guard, which were gun crews assigned to Merchant Marine ships and crossed the Atlantic, Pacific and Panama Canal Zone theatres of operation. His ship was off the coast of Okinawa waiting for the invasion of Japan when the atomic bombs were detonated over Japan.
After his discharge in 1946 Bill returned to Cincinnati and became reacquainted with the love of his life, Wilma Biddle. They were married on June 19, 1949. Bill attended The University of Cincinnati and studied accounting. They raised their 2 daughters, worked, went to church and did all the things American families do. They enjoyed family vacations and Sunday dinners with extended family. In their later years, Bill and Wilma enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and visited England, France, Japan and Australia while Cathy and Gary were living there.
Bill became a devoted caregiver when Wilma suffered a life changing stroke in 2001. He cared for her at home as long as he could; then visited her every day at the New London nursing home near their home in Snellville. They were married for 67 years until her death in 2016.
Bill was employed as an accountant for a number of years by The Mosler Safe Co. in Hamilton, OH. In 1965 he joined the thousands of workers who moved to Atlanta, GA to start the unprecedented growth we see today. In 1987, he formed his own business, Motor Carrier Services, to serve the needs of small trucking companies. He enjoyed his work and was actively engaged in it until recently.
Bill was a member of Mountain Park UMC for many years.
Bill always had a positive attitude even when things weren’t going well. His sense of humor and his zest for life were always apparent. He truly “never met a stranger”.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Gary Paisley of Monroe, GA; daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Marty Pope of Fitzgerald, GA; grandchildren, Rebecca Paisley of Monroe, GA; Zachary Paisley of Chicago, IL; Amanda and AL Whitley of Ocilla, GA; Ben Pope of Edison, GA and Catie Pope of Fitzgerald, GA and 3 great grands: Payton, Allie and Will; his Kentucky family: Linda and Bill Courtney, Carol and Steve Record and Russell and June Biddle and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Memorial Service to honor and celebrate the life of William “Bill” Harry Thurman will be held on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel. The family will receive friends on Friday, August 10, 2018 from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Georgia National Cemetery at a later date and time. In lieu of flowers a contribution to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital would be appreciated.
Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, A Family Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-979-3200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.