Thurman C Ashcraft

Thurman Curtis Ashcraft, 100, died on June 21, 2024, at his home in Coolidge, Arizona. He was born on September 2, 1923, in Sparks, Oklahoma to Clinton and Clara Ashcraft. He was the youngest of 5 children and earned the name “Babe” from his siblings.

The family moved to Arizona in 1929 during the Stock Market Crash and lived through the Great Depression. In Arizona, the family lived in tents off Attaway Road, working as farm laborers.

Curtis attended both Coolidge and Florence schools. In 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. He served as a Field Artillery 477 Detail Operator in Hawaii, moving artillery and equipment after the war ended in 1945. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1946 and returned to Florence.

In 1949, he married Thelma Marie Large in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The made their home in Mammoth, Arizona, where Curtis worked in the copper mine for the next 28 years. He retired in 1985 from Magma Copper Company at the age of 62 for health reasons.

They raised 7 children during their union. The family moved to Coolidge in 1969 following the death of Curtis’ mother and purchased the family home on Picacho Street. Curtis lived there the remainder of his days.

Curtis was a faithful member of the Church of Christ and enjoyed doing maintenance projects around the building. He enjoyed reading his Bible, gardening, woodworking, shopping sales, collecting various items, like pocketknives, vintage radios, hurricane lamps, etc. After the death of his wife Thelma in 2022, and 72 years of marriage, he enjoyed going to yard sales and Walmart. Daily he “made his rounds”, which included shopping at Walmart, Walgreens, and various businesses in Coolidge and Casa Grande. He drove himself up until his health began failing a few months ago.

Curtis is survived by four children: Stephen Curtis, Kirbyville, MO; Linda McWilliams (Carson), Florence, AZ; Richard, Coolidge, AZ; and Paul, Casa Grande, AZ; 19 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; and 7 great-great grandchildren. He was proceeded by his wife, Thelma (2022) and his sons, Ronald Valgene (1996), Jerry Milton (2019) and Clinton Eric (2022).

Services will be held Friday, June 28th, with visitation at 10:30am and service to follow at Church of Christ in Coolidge, burial will be held at Arizona Veteran’s Cemetery at Marana, July 23rd at 10:00am.