Hurst, Milton Thomas, LCDR USN, Retired, Jacksonville, Florida. Dad, Daddy, and Papa Fix It passed away, October 16, 2010, after a brief illness. Eldest son of Arthur and Florence Hurst, Milton was born in Northeast, Pennsylvania on September 10, 1920. Dad spent his youth working on the family farms and playing baseball. Upon graduation from Sherman Central School, Milton attended Evanston Collegiate Institute (now Kendall College) in Evanston, IL on a baseball scholarship. He joined the Navy in 1939 and was assigned to the USS Arizona. Milton was an onboard survivor of the attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He served aboard naval carriers USS Ticonderoga, USS Valley Forge, and the USS America. During his career he was also stationed aboard naval bases at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, Brooklyn, NY; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Patuxent River, MD; Alameda, CA; Norfolk, VA and Jacksonville, FL. After retiring from the US Navy in 1970, Dad worked as a government subcontractor in Washington, DC. Later, he was an engineer for Teledyne Inet where he designed and supervised the installation of power distribution systems at international airports in the US and abroad.
Milton loved to play baseball and had been scouted by professional teams but failed to pass the physicals due to his knees having been injured numerous times while playing catcher. He turned his athletic talents to the game of golf where he was a fierce competitor with a near scratch handicap.
Milton and his wife, Marion, were married on January 27, 1944. In the mid 1970s they built their home in the Whitehouse area of Jacksonville with minimal outside contractor assistance. Work in the home was accomplished with their gifted talents and exists today as a testament to their craftsmanship, hard work and love of the land.
Marion preceded Milton to heaven on July 22, 1999 and is waiting there with Jesus to welcome him. Also awaiting him are his parents brothers Kenny, Larry, Herbert, Jack, Jimmy, and Ernest (Tex) and sisters Orrissa Hewitt and Vera Skinner. Milton is survived by his youngest sister, Hazel Hurst Halter of Sherman, NY, and his sons Ronald (Mary Elizabeth) Hurst of Franklin, TN and Jay (Nancy) Hurst of Jacksonville, FL and daughters Linda (Malcom) Jowers of Jacksonville, Fl., and Gay (Dan) Pender of Slidell, LA. Daddy also leaves behind 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends. Dad is also survived by his friend and companion, Ginger Coggins, who brought him great joy, happiness and love these last few years.
Milton was a member of Riverside Presbyterian Church and the George Simmons Bible class.
One of the many fine qualities about Dad was he was always there to lend a helping hand to those in need. Daddy, you are the best and a member of the Greatest Generation. A renaissance man in every sense of the word. You will be forever loved and missed by those whose lives you’ve touched.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 11:00 A.M. at Riverside Memorial Park, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Riverside Presbyterian Church Youth athletic programs or to Hospice of Northeast Florida.
Arrangements made by Hardage-Giddens Town and Country Funeral Home 7242 Normandy Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida 32205.
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