Earl Dean Thrush, 94, former Sheridan resident, a retired automobile mechanic and Army veteran, passed away on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in Great Falls, MT.

Viewing will be Monday (Sept. 10th) at 10:00am until 11:00am with funeral service at 1:00pm from Champion Ferries Funeral Home in Sheridan, Wyoming, with Pastor John Craft officiating. Interment will follow in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Military honors will be performed by the Wyo. National Guard and American Legion. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Earl Dean Thrush was born August 23, 1918 in Sheridan, Wyoming, the second son of David W. and Florence (Davis) Thrush. He graduated from Sheridan High School and started working for his father at the Thrush Garage.

He married his high school sweetheart, Louise Bailey, September 12, 1939.

Earl served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as an airplane mechanic. After the war, he worked for Frontier Airlines in Billings Montana and then returned to the Thrush Garage and continued that business as a self¬-employed automobile mechanic.

Earl was a member of First Baptist Church of Sheridan and through the years he served as a deacon and church board member as well as teaching a junior high Sunday school class. He volunteered many hours of service to Camp Bethel as their on-call mechanic and fix it person as well as serving on the board for the camp. Earl's steadfast faith and love for his Lord has been a lifelong inspiration to his family and friends.

He enjoyed hiking, fly fishing, football, stamp collecting, traveling and spending time with his family.

Earl is survived by his two children, Don (Gay) Thrush of Great Falls and Carol (John) Cochran of Puyallup, WA; five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise; and his two brothers, Paul and Loren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Bethel, P.O. Box 70, Dayton, WY 82836.

SheridanMedia.com - September 6, 2012.