Thurlow Jefferson
- Published: June 25, 2009
Thurlow Jefferson Sr. passed away on Father’s Day, June 21, surrounded by family. Thurlow was born in 1928 in Yellow Springs to Nathan and Lillian (Thompson) Jefferson.
Thurlow graduated from the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in Xenia. He later served in the United States Army, bravely fighting in the Korean War. Shortly after being honorably discharged, Thurlow became employed with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. While at Wright-Patterson, Thurlow was selected to attend a summer training institute to further develop his electronic and diagnostic skills. He and his family spent the whole summer of 1973 at Fitzsimmons Air Force Base, in Denver. Thurlow went on to become a quality control inspector and later retired after 36 years of dedicated service.
Affectionately known as “Jeff,” he was actively involved with his church and community. At the First Baptist Church in Yellow Springs, Thurlow served as chairman of the Deacon Board. He also was a member of the Senior Choir, Male Chorus and Pulpit Committee. During the building of the church’s new location on Dayton Street, Thurlow and his wife, Ruddnette, served as committee chairpersons of the church dedication program.
One of Thurlow’s most cherished memories was serving as scout master to the Webelos Cub Scouts. Some of the group’s members were his son, Thurlow Jefferson Jr., Martin Brown, Alston Simpson and Ben Bebko, to name a few.
After spending time with the youth of Yellow Springs, Thurlow later became a member of the Yellow Springs Men’s Group. In his free time, Thurlow was an avid hunter fisherman and he took several trips to Lake Erie with his brother and local resident, Gilbert Newsome.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Betty McCormick; and brother, Nathan Jefferson.
Thurlow is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 47 years, Ruddnette Dixon Jefferson; Martena Burnside of Springfield, Ohio; Mark Mabra, of Concord, N.H.; Kimberly (Michael) Bragg, of Morristown, Tenn.; Tracy Jefferson, Alpharetta, Ga.; Thurlow Jefferson Jr., Dayton, Ohio; and Sharon Jefferson, suburban Detroit, Mich.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 27, at the First Baptist Church, beginning at 11 a.m., followed by the funeral at 1 p.m., with internment at Glen Forest Cemetery after the service.
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