George W. Thurmond, Md

Augusta, GA - George Wilson Thurmond, M.D. died June 12, 2008 after a brief illness.

Dr. Bill Thurmond was born near Franklin, Tennessee and was Salutatorian of his Franklin-Simpson High School class of 1955. He was graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1959 and from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1963. He completed his medical internship at the United States Army Tripler General Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii and served as Captain and Flight Surgeon in Vietnam. He returned to Tulane in 1966 to complete his medical residency in Otolaryngology.

Dr. Thurmond moved to Augusta in 1970 and founded Augusta Associates of Ear, Nose & Throat and Facial Plastic Surgery. During his medical career he was Chief of Staff of St. Joseph's Hospital from 1985 to 1986. He served on the hospital's Board of Directors from 1984 to 1987. He was a Diplomate of the America Board of Otolaryngology and a Fellow of the American Academy Otolaryngic Allergy and of the American College of Surgeons. He retired from medical practice in 2007.

He was on the Board of Governors at the Augusta Country Club and served as President in 1991. He was a charter member of the Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, North Carolina. Dr. Thurmond was a member of Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Thurmond was predeceased by his parents, Martin Lee Thurmond and Anness Wilson Thurmond, his brother Martin Lee and his sister Martha Anne.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Bonnie Baumbach Thurmond; his three daughters and their husbands, Michell Thurmond MD and David Allen Scheuer of Charlotte, Vermont, Melissa Thurmond and Lawson Elliott Jones of Atlanta, Georgia and Mary Margaret Brewer and Craig Wren Brewer of New Orleans, Louisiana; and his five granddaughters, McAlister Wynn Brewer, Sophie Wilson Brewer, Teresa Mallard Brewer, Cora Michell Jones and Emma Thurmond Jones.

Memorial services was held at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, Saturday, June 14, 2008 at eleven o'clock in the morning. Private graveside services was held in the afternoon at Summerville Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. William Hale Barrett, Dr. Henry North Goodwin, Dr. Newton Gaston Quantz, junior, Dr. Robinson Weller Schilling, Mr. Leroy Hampton Simkins, junior, Mr. Alfred Zachary Everitt, Mr. Edwin Latimer Douglass, junior, Mr. William Thedore Gary, III, Dr. David Romulus Thomas, III, Dr. Roger Carlisle Suttle, junior, Mr. Finley Henderson Merry and members of the Augusta Golf Association.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy, 1858 Lock and Dam Road, Augusta, Georgia 30906.