Richard Arnold Thurlow

Dick Thurlow of Apple Valley was taken into fellowship with his Lord and Savior on April 16, 2024. Born October 21, 1932 in Portland Maine, Dick attended grade school in the Portland area. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and served four years in that branch of the service. Dick married his beautiful wife, Virginia “Ginny” Thurlow in April of 1952 in Portland, Maine. Ginny later joined Dick at his military post, George AFB, until his honorable discharge in 1955. After a short return to Maine, the two migrated back to the Victor Valley to make their permanent home here in the High Desert. Dick was a longtime member or the High Desert Church in Victorville, and more recently attended High Desert's Apple Valley campus.

Dick is preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, as well as three loving sons and their wives and families: Scott and Pam of Beaver UT, Steve and Karen of Tucson AZ, and Rick and Tracy of Spring Valley Lake CA. Dick also leaves 4 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, and 7 great grandsons with one great-great grandson on the way.

In 1956, Dick became one of the first of three letter carriers in Victorville, where he worked until 1959. He then went to work for Southwest Gas Corporation where he was employed for thirty years, retiring in 1988 in the position of Manager of Gas Operations of the Southern California Division. Dick was also an active member of the Optimist Club of Victorville where he served a term as president, and later, a member of the Victorville Rotary Club. He also served as a board member and a term as President of the Victor Valley County Water District. Dick was also instrumental in the formation of the High Desert

Gridiron Club. Following retirement from Southwest Gas, Dick owned and operated Oasis Pools of Apple Valley, Inc. for several years and built many beautiful swimming pools throughout the High Desert area.

Dick's major hobby was art and during his time in the military he had many of his cartoons published in the Pacific Stars and Stripes as well as several other Air Force publications. During his stint as a mailman in Victorville, Dick also penned a daily cartoon in the San Bernardino Sun Telegram titled, “Mr. Walker”; a

postman character who depicted the daily trials and tribulations of Dick's own mail delivering experiences. Dick also had many of his cartoon works published in the old Victor Press and the Daily Press. Dick also had two books published: “Gridbits”; a book of cartoon humor on the game of football, printed in 2001, and the Christian novel titled “God's Paintbrush”, published in 2007. Sculpting was another of Dick's favorite and relaxing hobbies as he patiently molded many of his cartoon characters into 3D form. Dick also loved flying and jumped at every opportunity to go up with friends that owned airplanes.

Dick and his wife Ginny spent many weeks a year in Newport Beach on the Balboa Peninsula, where they enjoyed summer suns, sands, and cool ocean breezes.

Dick's Celebration of Life will be held May 16th at 10:00 am at Sunset Hills

Mortuary.