Kenton Monroe Thurman

Kenton Monroe Thurman

On Friday, November 16, 2018, Kenton Monroe Thurman passed

away peacefully at age 73 in Rancho Mirage, California surrounded by close family.

Ken was born in Portland, Oregon on August 7, 1945 at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon to parents Stanley Monroe Thurman and Vivian Mae Thurman. He had one younger brother, Rodney Carter Thurman, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his older twin sisters, Patricia and Pamela who died in infancy.

In 1954, Ken and his family moved to Kelso, Washington. A baseball player since Little League, Ken continued the sport through his years at Kelso High School. At age 17, Ken met Pamela Rae Rice who he would later marry and be married to for the next 53 years. After high school, Ken spent 3 years in the US. Army, most of which he served abroad in Germany as part of the Armor Europe. He and Pamela have many stories about living in Germany as newlyweds.

After graduating from the University of Washington in 1970, a forever Husky fan, Ken went on to start his first building and electrical business in Dallas, Texas. Missing the Pacific Northwest, Ken returned in 1973 and started Thurman Electric and Plumbing with his father, which later grew to 25 stores that made up Thurman Industries. It was ranked number forty in the country for home center stores. In 1953 his family founded Pay n Pak, the leading kitchen and bathroom retail stores that pioneered retail sales of electrical and plumbing products to the public.

Ken loved the adventure of traveling, reading a great book, journaling, golfing, and especially sailing in the Pacific Northwest with his family. He was active in the Seattle Yacht Club, and served as Commodore in 2000 where he issued a challenge for the America's Cup. He served a full term on the U.S. Selective Service Board, as well as on the Boards for both the Overlake School and the Museum of History and Industry, where he helped to secure the museum's current location on Lake Union.

Ken was very proud of his children Cyrina Keller and her husband Sam Keller, and their two daughters Vivian and Anabel, as well as his son Bret Thurman and his wife Kathryn Thurman and their two children Owen and Evelyn. He is survived by his wife Pamela Thurman.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Seattle Yacht Club on Sunday, January 20th at 1:00pm.