SIKESTON -- Claud Glendon Thurston, 86, died May 26, 2007, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.
Born Sept. 13, 1920, in Vanduser, son of the late James Frederick and Ada Joyce Thurston, he served for 40 years of active duty in military services, beginning in 1940 while he served on the USS Tennessee and was a Pearl Harbor survivor. In 1950, he became active duty in the United States Air Force Reserves and served the remainder of his career, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. During his military career, he was involved in numerous battles throughout the South Pacific.
On Feb. 6, 1949, he married Mary Maxine Mills, who survives of the home.
Other survivors include: one daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Bill Martin of Tulsa, Okla.; and one grandson, Christopher S. Kiefer of Boston.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ponder Funeral Home, where services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Carl Addison, pastor of Tanner Street Church of God, will officiate.
Burial with full military rites will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.