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THURSTON, SIDNEY F.
THURSTON, SIDNEY F., of Waterbury Center, died on February 22 at Fletcher Allen Health Care. He was born on June 20, 1931, in Stowe, the son of James and Pearl (Durett) Thurston. He attended Waterbury High School. On Sept. 22, 1951, he married Dolores Hickory at the Waterbury Center Community Church. He began his career as a painting contractor in 1955, and then began the Thurston Paint and Wallpaper Store in 1969. He later transitioned into selling carpet and flooring, changing the name to Thurston Floor Covering and Window Treatment Store. As a hobby, he also ran the Center Fire Sales out of his garage, where he would sell firefighting supplies to local firefighters. In 1958, he and several other community members began the Waterbury Center Fire Department. He served as the fire chief since its inception until stepping down in 1991. He continued to serve as a firefighter until retiring from the fire service in 1995. He held many offices with regional, state and local firefighting associations. He was past president of the New England Fire Chiefs Assoc., Vermont Fire Chiefs Assoc. and Capital West Mutual Aid. As an outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends. He enjoyed snowmobiling, throwing horseshoes and spending time at his camp on Holland Pond. Survivors include his wife, Dolores Thurston, of Waterbury Center; four sons, Gary and his wife, Sharon, of Waterbury Center, Tyler and his wife, Lori, of Alabama, Kurt of Waterbury Center, and Kelley, of Colorado; eight grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; sisters Virginia Fraties and husband, Bill, of Colchester, and Brenda Viens and husband, Armand, of North Fayston. He is also survived by aunts and uncles Mrs. Donald (Elosie) Thurston, of Waterbury Center, Robert and Maydene Kellett, of Waterbury Center, Harriet Durett, of Stowe, and Lester and Marge Durett, of Colchester.
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