Forrest Albert Thurston Sr, 91 of Bradford, VT died on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loved ones from a brief battle of cancer. He was born on January 27, 1932, at the family homestead in Bradford, VT to Charles and Eva Thurston. He enlisted in the U.S Marine Corps following his schooling at the Bradford Academy. He served in Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1954 with a purple heart. He married the love of his life Patricia Jobin. He worked for many different road construction companies as a heavy equipment operator, retiring from Morrill Construction as a bulldozer operator. Following hurricane Irene in 2011 he came out of retirement at 79 years old working full time operating a bulldozer reconstructing Bethel, VT roads. He was an avid deer hunter with his last trip to Ohio in September 2022 at the age of 90, bagging a 17 point buck with his beloved grandson Lucky Thurston. He enjoyed horseshoes, camping, playing cribbage, going to Bear Ridge Racetrack and spending time with family. One of his favorite past times was having lunch and socialization at the Orange East Senior Center and going for breakfast with Danny Brick Sr & Jr, Brody Brick, Bernard Ames, and Chip Parry.
He is survived by his children and their spouses Alfred "Mike" Thurston, Jeffrey Thurston, Loucinda "Cindy" and David Williams, Roann and Peter Ackerman, Peter and Karen Thurston, Rheneé Placey and her life partner Douglas Murray, Forrest Thurston, Jr. and Sherry, his brother Norman "Pete" Thurston, his grandchildren Lucky Thurston, Angela Brick, Jeff Thurston Jr., Chris Thurston, Erin Thurston, Skeeter Ames, Davey Williams, Amanda Goodridge, Kelsey Thurston, Cody Thurston, Thomas Placey, Desireé Placey, Amber Stearns, Autumn Thurston, 27 great grandchildren and 4 great, great grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and great friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Eva Thurston, his wife Patricia Jobin Thurston, mother in-law Iola "Ma" Howard, great granddaughter Autumn Rose Brown, and 19 brothers and sisters.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Orange East Senior Center, 176 Waits River Road Bradford, VT 05033. A special thank you to Bayada Hospice Services, out of Norwich, VT for the loving care, services and support they provided.
Calling Hours will be on Tuesday March 14, 2023, from 5-7PM at Ricker Funeral Home and Cremation Care of Woodsville, 1 Birch St. Woodsville, NH. There will be a funeral service on Wednesday March 15, 2023, at 10:30AM at the Grace United Methodist Church, 186 North Main St. Bradford, VT. Interment with military honors will be at the West Bradford Cemetery on Hackett Hill Rd, Bradford on Wednesday May 10, 2023, at 1PM