Carroll Eugene Thurston, 89, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at his residence.
Born May 11, 1936 in Shelby County, he was the son of Thomas and Lorean (Murnan) Thurston. He married Charlotte Newby Thurston on December 25, 1965 at Bengal Christian Church, and she preceded him in death on May 20, 2025.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Ann Marie Houseworth (Brent) of Fairland and Amy Lynn Thurston (Keith Stinebaugh) of Golden, Colorado; sister-in-law Jenny Thomas (Glenn) of Grayson, Kentucky; nieces Debra Jo Newby Duvendeck of New Castle, Indiana; Melissa Stoddard Swisher (Chip) of Alexandria, Virginia; grandniece Cara Swisher and grandnephew Colin Swisher. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Marjorie Elizabeth Thurston and Margaret Valice Thurston; close family friend Doug Richardson; sister-in-law Lorna Kay Newby Stoddard (Everett); brother-in-law Jerry Dean Newby; and grandnephew John Dean Newby.
Mr. Thurston was a lifelong resident of this area, continuing the legacy of a family who has resided in Shelby County since before Indiana was a state. He attended Hendricks Township School and maintained lifelong friendships through the Hendricks Township Alumni Association. After graduating from Shelbyville High School, he made many friends throughout the state while President of Indiana Rural Youth, as a member of Sugar Creek Lodge #279 in Fairland, by calling square dances across Indiana, and in his decades of service to the Shelby County Fair.
Carroll owned and operated Gold Star Construction and C and C Rentals with his wife Charlotte, and guided his daughters in their ownership of the A and A Concessions family business.
Carroll grew his legacy by planting seeds, whether it was singing at home and for the pleasure of others, constructing furniture or houses from raw wood and nails, starting each year's garden afresh, or building one of the most popular fairs in Indiana. We as his family are lucky to carry the fruits of his life with us, in the songs and laughter we still hear, the stories he loved to tell, and the smiles we will always remember.
A joint funeral service for Carroll and Charlotte will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with Pastor Jonathan Stephenson officiating. Burial will be in Second Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Johnson County. Friends may call on Wednesday afternoon from 12:00 noon until 1:30 pm, at which time Masonic Rites and Eastern Star Services will be held. Friends can honor Carroll's generosity and care for his community by sending memorial donations to the local Salvation Army.
Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
