In Memory of
Captain Harold H. Thurston
1918 - 2012
Hutch, as he was
known, began his flying career in Minnesota, barnstorming around the
Midwest. He received a degree in
aeronautical engineering from the University of Minnesota and shortly after,
joined TWA.
During his 36-year
career, he lived in Kansas City and New York before finally settling
permanently in Northern California. He
flew planes beginning with the DC-3 and on up to the B-747. The majority of his career was spent flying
747’s internationally.
As the daughter of a
TWA pilot, I pretty much grew up on TWA planes and I especially loved flying with my dad. He put his passengers at ease with his calm,
confident demeanor and charmed them with his ready smile and willingness to
take time to chat with them. Always on
these flights, someone from the crew
would say to me, “Your dad is the best captain I fly with.” They didn’t have to say it, so it really
meant a lot.
After he retired, Dad
found another thing he loved – running.
He ran for the next 32 years, filling the wall of his den with medals
from races. He grew to relish his
birthdays now for they meant less competition in his age group. The last race he “won” was an 8K. He finished in one hour and 22 minutes. He was 86 years old.
Dad will be greatly
missed by all of us. He is survived by
Jane, his loving wife of 70 years, daughter Laurie, sons David, Steven and
Skip, grandchildren Danny, Kevin and Jeffery, Jason, Megan and Erin, and the two
newest members of the family, great-grandchildren Jakob and Misha.
Fly on, Dad.
