William Thurlow Obituary

William Thurlow
Feb. 12, 1941 - Oct. 24, 2020
Novato, CA
William Thurlow passed away peacefully at his home in Novato on October 24th after battling cancer for more than five years. The son of William and Harriet Thurlow, Willie was a third generation Californian who grew up in Orinda and graduated from Acalanes HS. While at Cal he met his wife, Terry Harman, another native Californian.
After obtaining his business degree from UC Berkeley, he entered the USAF to pursue his lifelong ambition to be a fighter pilot. He was awarded the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service during the Vietnam War.
He was then stationed in Germany where their two daughters were born. Once he completed his military service, he began a management consulting career which took them to England for three years. The family returned to the US in 1974 and settled in Orinda where he was an active volunteer in his daughters' school and scouting activities including serving as Treasurer and Co-President of the Del Rey Parents Club. They have resided in Novato since 1992.
The former Cal yell leader was an enthusiastic Bear fan and enjoyed many road trips with fellow alums. Willie also served on the Bear Backer Council and as President of the Golden Bear Club.
The family spent many summers camping in the Sierras and the yearly ritual of a week at the beloved Lair of the Bear – Cal's Alumni family camp. Willie loved the Lair and served as camp manager in 1985.
Willie had a great devotion to family and friends and loved the Lair, Cal sports, carpentry projects and the outdoors. He loved to travel especially to the Sierras and the beaches of Hawaii and Australia.
He is survived by his wife Terry of nearly 55 years, his daughters Barbie (Craig) Bocks of Lafayette, CA and Debby Thurlow (Rich Bowen) of Novato, CA as well as, Shelby and Justin Bocks, Connor and Elliott Thurlow, and Bryson and Kyden Bowen.
We will have a Celebration of Life when it is safe to do so. Contributions may be made to the Lair Staff Alumni Club Scholarship, UC Berkeley Foundation, in memory of Willie Thurlow.

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Published by East Bay Times on Nov. 20, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
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3 Entries

Donna Mani

December 5, 2020

We are so sad to hear of Bill’s passing. We remember you as such nice neighbors on Prestwick Ct . Memories from the past and prayers for your family.
John and Donna Mani

debby

November 27, 2020

Our dad,
It's really hard to say the word "was", but I guess those are the facts,
He was awesome!
Our entire family has been so lucky to have had him around an extra FIVE plus years, many thanks to all his specialty surgeons, oncologist, nurses, and reception staff at all the hospitals, and treatment centers. Our dad thought the world of the people who were taking care of him as well as taking care of our mother. You all kept him upright and moving until his very last few days.
Our dad was not one to keep still. He took his bride, our amazing mother Terry all over the world. He was lucky enough to keep traveling up until his last month. He even went to help some of his best friends pack up before they moved from one state to another...(potentially he also helped consume some good scotch ..you know so they wouldn't have to pack it .. Who does that? Our dad that's who.

Our dad never missed an opportunity to be present for his grandchildrens sporting events, singing performances, graduations, birthdays etc. He was a great shopper, and put in extra effort in making a poem or a riddle and then sending the reciepient on a scavenger hunt to retrieve the gift from odd places like the trunk of his car, the garage, under the bed,or even by the wood shed. He loved to include all in the holiday gift giving even if they were second hand, most of the men have gotten a "repurposed" ugly tie from Uncle Willie, sometimes from his closet, but more often from Goodwill.

Our dad spent a lot of time up in the Sierras, camping, hiking, swimming, and sitting on the shores of Pinecrest Lake playing Sudako. Yosemite was also another favorite place to visit, mom and dad visited several times a year, a few days or weeks if they could get a reservation at Curry Village or the preferred Housekeeping Camp. Occasionally they would live large, and stay a night or two at the Ahwahnee Hotel enjoying a view of the river.

Our dad volunteered at our schools, and our scouting groups. One of my favorite memory from scouting was being in the Howard's garage before Halloween. The event was to carve our pumpkins, bob for apples..etc. Our dad brought the biggest zucchini from our vegetable garden to carve instead of a pumpkin. It was a BIG zucchini. He was imaginative, silly, and very clever.

He helped erect a bounce back board at Del Rey School, when Barbie and I were much younger. It was an exciting day, and one that I look back on with fond memories.

I think one of his most recent and rewarding projects, was to help re-design and re-build the Camp Blue Stage at the Lair of the Bear up in Pinecrest California. He was able to work with old friends and made new friends, doing a project that he hoped will hold up for many years to come.

more later
hugs deb