James "Loren" Thurston
(1899-1952)
James "Loren" Thurston was born on Feb. 2, 1899 in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA, the son of Charles and Emma (Minerd) Thurston.
During World War I, Loren served with the US Army in France. He was a member of the 110th Supply Company. Sadly, he was still in Europe when his mother died at home in 1919, and was unable to get home for the funeral.
Loren married Ellen Ahlborn (1897-1976). They had at least three children -- Jay Thurston, Mrs. Don Stewart and Mrs. Joseph Matty. One of the daughters' names was Blanche Jean.
In September 1931, Loren is known to have resided in Mt. Pleasant, and attended a 25th wedding anniversary reception for his brother Alvin Thurston.
By 1945, the Thurstons had moved to Detroit, where they remained at least through the early 1950s
Loren passed away at the age of 53 on May 2, 1952, at the Veterans Hospital in Dearborn, MI. His remains were returned to Mt. Pleasant for burial in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Ellen outlived him by almost a quarter-century, and died in 1976.
Copyright © 2001, 2003, 2008 Mark A. Miner