Thurston J. Dobson

Palmer Pioneer Home resident, Thurston J. Dobson, 87, died Dec. 21 of pneumonia at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Thurston was born April 11, 1921 in Canton, Ga.

He served proudly with the U.S. Army, 4th Infantry Division during World War II, and made the first D-Day landing at Normandy, Utah Beach. He was also at the Liberation of Paris, the Belgium battles in Hurfgen Forest, and the Seigfried line. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. After his military service, he began work in the oil patches of Oklahoma, Kentucky and West Virginia. He moved to Alaska in 1978 and worked for the Matanuska Susitna Borough until his retirement in 1985. He made many friends among the residents and staff of the Palmer Pioneer and Veteran’s Home, where he was known for his quick wit and dry sense of humor. He is survived by his children, Garland and Annamarie Dobson of Willow, Donna and Joe Tomsula of Perth, Australia, Sheila and Nick Etheridge of Diamond Head, Miss., and Keith and Cindy Dobson of Knoxville, Tenn. Also by 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and his sister, Edna Finch of Dallas, Ga., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Henry Dobson and Anthia Tilda Jordan, his brothers Preston, Harold, Aldon, Herman, Weldon and Grady and a sister Jewel Pemberton.

Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m, today at the Willow United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be sent to the Resident Council, Palmer Veterans and Pioneer Home, 250 E. Fireweed Street, Palmer, AK 99645.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Valley Funeral Home-Wasilla.