Susan Thurston

Susan Fountain Thurston GREENSBORO - Susan Fountain Thurston, 95, of Greensboro, NC passed away on March 10, 2015, at Well Spring Retirement Community. Born in Rocky Mount, NC on August 3, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Susan Rankin and Richard T. Fountain. She received an A.A. degree from Peace College in 1938 and her BA degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 1940. At Chapel Hill she met the love of her life, Tom, who was in medical school. They were married in 1941 and spent most of their married life living in Salisbury, NC where Tom practiced medicine for over 50 years. Susie and Tom participated in many civic activities. Susie was on the board of the Rowan Museum, and Regent of the Elizabeth Maxwell Steele, Chapter of the DAR, Chairman of Colonial Dames, and active in church work of the Concord Presbytery. She served on the building committee which selected the plans for the present sanctuary. She was president of the Rowan Medical Auxiliary. She was also on the Parks and Recreation Committee for Salisbury, where she and Tom donated land around Overton School that is now part of the Greenway. She and Tom were interested in Historic Preservation, where Tom was a Charter Member of Historic Salisbury. Also, they donated the Fountain House in Chapel Hill to Historic Chapel Hill. She loved to discuss politics, having grown up with her dad serving as Speaker of the House in the State Legislature in 1927 and elected Lieutenant Governor in 1929. She and Tom loved to travel, traveling to every continent except Antarctica. She and Tom moved to Greensboro in 1994 to Well Spring Retirement Community, where they received wonderful care. She was always there for her family and friends, loving to entertain them at her home, especially at Christmas. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Tom Thurston, II; and son Richard F. Thurston. Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Dr. Tom Thurston, III (Anne) of Salisbury, NC; daughter, Susan T. Sember (Joe) of Salisbury, NC; three grandchildren, Harrison Thurston (Tatyana) of Charlotte, NC, Gardiner Thurston of Salisbury, NC, and Anna Jenkins of Brooklyn, NY; two great-grandchildren, Zoe and Luciana Thurston; also her sisters, Ann Dill (Tom) of Tarboro, NC and Margaret Paylor of Greenville, SC; brother, Dick Fountain (Kacky) of Rocky Mount, NC; sisters-in-law, Geit Johnson of Statesville, NC and Linda Thurston of Salisbury, NC; and also by the marriages of Susie's children; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 PM Monday, March 16 at First Presbyterian Church, conducted by Rev. Dr. Jim Dunkin and Rev. Dr. Randall Kirby. The family will receive friends following the service in Lewis Hall. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 308 W. Fisher St., Salisbury, NC 28144 or a favorite charity. The family would like to thank Well Spring Retirement Community in Greensboro where Susie lived for 21 years. She received wonderful care from Dr. Green, the nurses, the staff and especially Claudette Krell. Also to Hospice that helped mother during her illness. A very special thanks to Jeanette Warren who was a faithful friend and caregiver for 17 years. She and Susie enjoyed many outings of shopping, going to the lake, mountains, and beach. She took Susie to many family gatherings. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Thurston family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.