LaWanda Thurston

Mrs. LaWanda Thurston passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at her residence.


She was born December 10, 1930 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Lee and Letha Mauer DesVoingnes. She married Carlton Thurston on July 28, 1952 and had resided in the Fountain City community since 1952.


LaWanda was a homemaker and formerly worked as a nurse's aid. She was a faithful member of the Hopewell United Methodist Church and enjoyed playing the piano and many other outreach activities. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who enjoyed cooking. She was a member of Chapter #552, Order of Eastern Star.


LaWanda will be missed by her daughters, Jan Jordan and her husband Paul, and Nancy Haines, all of Richmond; sons, Neil Thurston, of Richmond and Dennis Thurston and his wife Sheryl, of Lynn; grandchildren, Abigail Haines, Cindy Killion and Jason Thurston; great-grandchildren, Tanner Killion, Olivia Thurston and Adele Thurston.


LaWanda was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carlton Thurston, on June 5, 2000; and brother, Leonard DesVoingnes.


Chapter #552, Order of Eastern Star, will conduct a memorial ceremony at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 31 at the Smith & McQuiston Funeral Home, 321 US 27 South, Fountain City. Rev. Max Knight and Rev. Tom Ward will conduct a funeral ceremony afterward. Interment will follow in Willow Grove Cemetery.


Family and friends may gather for visitation from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, at the funeral home.


Memorial contributions may be sent to Hopewell United Methodist Church, 11621 Hough Road, Fountain City, IN 47341; or Ronald McDonald House, 555 Valley Street, Dayton, OH 45404.