November 6, 2009
Deacon Robert Thurgood dies Oct. 31
Deacon Robert C. “Bob” Thurgood, 86, of Evansville, died Oct. 31 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
He was ordained to the diaconate on June 19, 1983, and served at Holy Rosary Church in Evansville until his retirement in 2000.
Deacon Thurgood was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Philippines and Japan; he later served in the Korean conflict. He worked for Orr Iron and Shelby Steel for 45 years and retired from O’Neal Steel in 1987. He was past president of The Evansville Purchasing Management Association.
He was a member of Holy Rosary Church. He was awarded the Msgr. Maurilius E. Bilskie Award in 1988, and installed into the Bruté Society in 1997 for outstanding and devoted service to his parish.
He served as president of Holy Rosary Church Council, and was a member of Holy Rosary’s Men’s Club. He directed the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for 12 years, and he and his wife were chair couple of the diocesan Christian Family Movement.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Jean; two sons, Steven Thurgood of O’Fallon, Ill., and Thomas C. Thurgood of Macon, Miss.; nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel R. and Eleanore E. (Sonnemaker) Thurgood, and brothers, Ralph F. and Charles H. Thurgood.
A Mass of Christian burial was held Nov. 4 at Holy Rosary Church. Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger was the celebrant with priests of the diocese as concelebrants and the deacons of the diocese in attendance.