Charlotte Thurston

Charlotte Thurston, 85, of Shelbyville passed away Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at home following a lengthy illness. Born July 28, 1939, in New Castle, she was the daughter of Manson Morris and Inez Irene (Robbins Hilbert) Newby. She married Carroll E. Thurston of Shelbyville on Christmas evening, 1965, and he survives. Also surviving are daughters Ann Houseworth (Brent) of Fairland and Amy Thurston (Keith Stinebaugh) of Golden, Colorado; sister Lorna Kay Stoddard of Alexandria, Virginia; sister-in-law Jenny Thomas (Glenn) of Grayson, Kentucky; nieces Debra Jo Newby Duvendeck of New Castle and Melissa Stoddard Swisher (Chip) of Alexandria, Virginia; grandnephew Colin Swisher of Alexandria, Virginia; grandniece Cara Swisher of Alexandria, Virginia; and close friend and neighbor Arlene Dile. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Jerry Dean Newby and sister-in-law Linda; brother-in-law Everett Stoddard; sisters-in-law Marjorie Thurston and Margaret Thurston; and grandnephew John Dean Newby.

Charlotte graduated from New Castle High School in 1957, where she very active in Marching Band, Orchestra, and Pep Band. She received an AB in Education from Franklin College in 1961, where she later did graduate work in computer programming in the early 1980s. She also received an MA in Mathematics from Butler University in 1965. She taught math for 6 years at Shelbyville Junior High and High Schools, then joined her husband as a small business owner, owning and operating C and C Rentals, Thurston Realty, and Thurston Rental Referrals. She was a Graduate, Realtors Institute (GRI), and member of the Shelbyville Board of Realtors, which she served as Secretary. She was also a member of Fairland Order of Eastern Star Lodge No. 359.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the following medical professionals who cared so much for Charlotte during her long illness: Dr Anthony Bashall; Dr Kristin Willfond and Theresa Hunt; Janice Huntsman of MHP Palliative Care; Dr Loren Schubert; the staffs of Ashford Place and St Croix Hospice.

Charlotte loved all things beautiful, from the splendor of nature to the elegance of music, art, and architecture. She could see the spontaneous beauty in animals and children, and the symmetrical beauty in math and puzzles. She encouraged her family, friends, and students to understand and appreciate the beauty around them. We will remember her in the birds' songs, in the flowers' blossoms, and in the sun's brilliant rays.

A celebration of life with an Eastern Star service will be held at a later time. Friends may honor Charlotte's love of reading with memorial contributions to the Shelbyville-Shelby County Library.

Funeral Directors, Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Charlotte's family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.