L. Thurman Gill, 86, Washington, Indiana, and formerly of Seymour, passed away at home Wednesday evening surrounded by his family.
Thurman started in the newspaper business at the Washington Times in 1957. In 1962 he moved to Seymour to begin working at the Seymour Daily Tribune, starting as the advertising director, then in 1966 he was named director of sales, advertising and printing. In 1973 he was named publisher and held that position until he retired in 1996.
During his time in Seymour, he was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Elks, Jaycees and was a life member of the American Legion. Before the school system offered educational opportunities for those with special needs, he was one of many community leaders who saw a need. He was president of the council for the Sunshine School, a school he helped found for those with special needs. He considered this one of his greatest achievements. In 1998 he was named Citizen of the Year by the Seymour Chamber of Commerce.
Thurman served two tours in Korea in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Essex CVA9 with Attack Squadron 55. He was an accomplished woodworker and photographer. He never met a stranger and had a knack for running into someone he knew no matter where he was traveling. He made many a toy wooden train. His workshop candy jar was always stocked with Tootsie Rolls and his refrigerator with little glass bottled Cokes for the kids of the neighborhood. Mr. Gill was always ready to listen and offer advice and help. He enjoyed meeting his buddies for coffee at the truck stop and Bevers Pharmacy, both in Seymour. He was a gifted storyteller who had an unending supply of stories about his life experiences, starting with being a child of the Depression, traveling the world in the Navy, and the myriad of jobs he held until he landed in the newspaper business. Working in the newspaper business only added to his repertoire of stories generated by this profession.
Besides his family, his pride and joy was his 1947 Willys Jeep. He enjoyed nothing more than taking his family, especially his grandchildren, and his German shepherd Madchen for rides.
In Washington, he and the Romeos (real old men eating out) could be spotted on Thursdays having lunch at various restaurants around town. While in Washington he was a member of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church. Until his health prevented him from traveling, he enjoyed spending the winters in Florida.
Born in Washington on Sept. 2, 1932, he was the son of Henry Herr and Esther King Gill, both of whom preceded him in death. On Nov. 16, 1957, he married Eleanor Lucille Gill. She passed away on Sept. 1, 2008. On May 16, 2009, he married Donna Ashe Peed, who survives.
Thurman was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and friend. Other survivors include four children, Mark (Marion) Gill, Cari (Bernie) Hauersperger, Glen (Marty) Gill, Steve Gill, and stepdaughter Cindy (JC) Noll; eight grandchildren, Scott Gill, Kayla (Darin) Richart, Emily (Nathan) Meiner, Ethan Gill, Laura, Aidan, Clare and Therese Hauersperger; two stepgranddaughters, Alyson Dougherty and Danica Dowling; one great-granddaughter, Ellie Richart; one brother, Henry (Mary Jane) Gill; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his geographical children (his Seymour neighbors), Danny and Monique Christensen and Allen Simpson and Glenda Simpson.
He is preceded in death by his first wife; one son, Charles Gill; his parents; and his sister, Karlene Butterworth.
Visitation is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. also at the church. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. Monday, with military graveside rites, at Riverview Cemetery in Seymour.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Heart to Heart Hospice or Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church.
-30-
Online condolences may be made at www.gillsince1872.com