DeLore W. Thurgood

DeLore W. Thurgood

SYRACUSE a€" DeLore Willard Thurgood, 81, resident of Syracuse his entire life passed away peacefully Monday, August 3, 2009 with his loving family at his side. He fought so bravely with cancer for two years.

He was born to Therin and LeOra Harris Thurgood on June 23, 1928, in Ogden. He attended Syracuse Elementary, North Davis Junior High and Davis High schools, graduating with the class of 1946.

He served in the U.S. Navy for five years from January 1947 to December 1951. After the Navy, he attended Weber State College at night and worked during the day.

He retired from Hill Air Force Base in June 1985. He had worked for the comptroller, in the Accounting and Finance Office and for the Directorate of Maintenance. At the time of retirement, he held a senior management position in the Directorate of Maintenance.

He served six years as mayor of Syracuse. During the middle of his second term, he resigned to serve a mission for the LDS Church in Louisville, KY with his wife Dolores.

After retirement, he became involved in many volunteer projects. One was heading a group to raise money to build the Syracuse Museum and Cultural Center and the Farm and Home Museums serving as President of the museum. He also served several years on the board of Directors for the Air Force Heritage Foundation. He served on many volunteer boards, doing volunteer work was his passion. He helped develop the Hill Air Force Museum, and worked many hours with Friends of Antelope Island making many friends.

He loved writing books and life histories. He was very active in the LDS Church serving in many positions such as Scout Committees, High Priest Group Leader, Executive Secretary to the Bishop, High Council, Family History Consultant and Ogden Temple Ordinance Worker. He and his wife Colleen served on a service mission at the Joseph Smith Memorial building.

In 1952, he married Dolores Hull. She died in 1997. They had five children: Douglas, Deonne, Drew, Darin and Dana (deceased). He had three very special granddaughters Mindy, Brooke, Jessica and one great-granddaughter Taysen.

In 2005, he married Colleen Dahl in the Ogden LDS Temple. They had 4 1/2 years of a very happy marriage, which he considered to be a great blessing to the remaining years of his life.

Surviving are his wife Colleen Dahl, sons, Douglas Thurgood, Drew Thurgood, Darin Thurgood, daughter, Deonne (Lynn) Schrauth, step-sons, Brad Dahl, Doug (Wendy) Dahl, step-daughters, Jan (Brent) Jones, Dana (Scott) Ashby, Pam (Nate) Cragun, 19 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, brother, Boyd (Carrol) Thurgood, sister, Beulah Cook and sister-in-law, Lois Thurgood.

Preceded in death by his parents, wife Dolores, brother Duane and infant son Dana.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 7, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Syracuse Legacy Park Ward, 2024 So. 1475 W. Friends and family may call Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Syracuse City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to one of his great loves, the Syracuse Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in care of Syracuse City.

The family wants to thank Cage with Hearts for Hospice of Utah for her loving care.