Wendell Thrasher

Wendell Earl Thrasher, 92, of Moulton passed away Friday, August 4, 2017 at his home. Visitation will be from 12 till 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at the Jones Chapel Congregational Christian Church. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Tonye Pepper officiating. Burial will be in Jones Chapel Cemetery.

Born on September 28, 1924, Wendell was a member of Jones Chapel Congregational Christian Church. He also served in the US Navy as a Seaman First Class during World War II. He fought in the Coral Sea Battle, the Battle of Midway, where he was on the USS Yorktown when it went down, and he served in the Philippines. During his military service, Wendell received the America Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal with four bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. After being honorably discharged, he was involved in the Yorktown CV-5, the Battle of Midway, and the Coral Sea Battle Reunions. In 2014 and 2015, Wendell was honored in the Battle of Midway Commemorations in St. Augustine, Florida for his distinguished service. He was also honored at the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea Commemoration held in New York City in 2017 for his distinguished service. While there, he was honored by the Prime Minister of Australia and had dinner with the President of the United States and several other distinguished guests.

Survivors include his daughters, Barbara Jean Miller of Allegan, MI, Gina Thrasher Hunt of Brookhaven, MS, Marsha Thrasher Farris, Paula Thrasher Bradford and Amy Kelley all of Moulton; grandchildren, Heath, Patrick, Marc, Jason, Joshua, Stephanie, Sarah, Jonathan, and Jake; great-grandchildren, Madison, Jackson, Oliver, Max, Justin, Becca, Nathan, and Nicholas; siblings, Winford and Freida Thrasher, Aline and Max Wiley, and Nadine Thrasher; sister-in-law, Janice Thrasher; brother-in-law, Larry LaMarche; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Wendell was preceded in death by his wife, Ocille Moats Thrasher; parents, Percy and Gracie Thrasher; brothers, Dean and Arnold Thrasher; sisters, Shelby Thrasher and Imogene LaMarche; son, Wendell Jay Thrasher; and two grandchildren, Shawn and Susanna.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Marc Morse, Heath Hunt, Patrick Hunt, and nephews, Donald Berryman, Alton Thrasher, and Glen Carpenter. Honorary pallbearers are Starlin Shelton, Clyde King, Winford Thrasher, Larry LaMarche, Max Wiley, Tony Hunt, Harold Shelton and Max Miller.

Special thanks are given to the staff of Hospice of North Alabama, especially Gail Stricklin, Regina Tucker and Keith Glass.

In lieu of flowers, checks made payable to Jones Chapel Church can be dropped off at Mr. Thrasher’s home, Lawrence Funeral Home or the Jones Chapel Church.