Jean Wingo Thurmond passed away Sunday, June 4, 2017, surrounded by her family. Celebration of Life: 11 a.m. Monday, June 12, in the sanctuary of Broadway Baptist Church. A reception and light lunch will follow in Fellowship Hall. Jean was born Dec. 6, 1922, in Paris, Texas, the first child of Hal Chapman and Fay Hudson Wingo. She attended public schools in Santa Anna, where her father was pastor of the First Baptist Church, and where her two younger siblings, Nancie Jane Wingo and Hal Chapman Wingo Jr. were born. The family moved to Gonzales, Texas, in 1935 when her father became pastor of the First Baptist Church. Jean graduated from Gonzales High School in 1939. She enrolled at Baylor University in 1940, majoring in music and voice performance. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Jean chose to work for a year at an airplane assembly plant near Fort Worth before returning to San Antonio. She was a member and frequent soloist with the choir of the First Baptist Church, where she was introduced to William Kenneth Thurmond, a young medical officer stationed with the U.S. Army Air Corps in nearby Hondo, Texas. Jean and Ken were married at First Baptist Church, San Antonio, on Jan. 8, 1947, and moved to Fort Worth where Ken established his long career in orthodontics. They soon became parents to three children, Ken, Tim and Becky. Jean and Ken nurtured their children's knowledge and love of God, and introduced them to the inspirations of this world by exposing them to art, music, theater, other cultures and travel. Jean shared the joys of rich and rewarding friendships with her children while instilling within them the importance of developing meaningful relationships in their own lives. She and Ken instilled in their children a strong sense of family which she celebrated on any and every occasion. Jean was a perfectionist, and she orchestrated what each of her children would look back on, and consider perfect childhoods. Jean took great satisfaction from participating in and contributing to the Fort Worth community. She was president of Cooks Hospital Auxiliary, a member of Fort Worth Women's Club, and she served on the original board of the Scott Theater. She was president of the Dental Auxiliary of Fort Worth and the first president of North Texas Planned Parenthood. She was a member of the Fort Worth Chapter of P.E.O. and president of the Dinner Dance Club. She studied under Bert Honea with the Ray Wymer Bible Class and worshipped all of her adult life at Broadway Baptist Church. Jean loved beauty in all its forms. Always intrigued by interior design, she worked for Frank Guse before opening her own design business at the age of 48. She enjoyed a busy and successful career until her last project which she completed at the age of 85. With the birth of her first grandchild, and true to form, she insisted on being addressed as "Grandmother" as she was exceptionally proud of her new role and relished it for the rest of her life. Each of her three grandchildren delighted in her as she did in them. After the death of her husband, Jean lived with her sister, Nancie Wingo, for over twenty years. Those were happy and adventurous times as they traveled all over the world, and brought fun, humor and meaning to each of their days. They frequently could be found at the opening of a new restaurant, movie and museum. They were companions, best friends and became known around town as "the sisters," an identity they shared and cherished until Nancie's death this past Christmas Eve. Jean truly left this world a better place by the strong legacies of faith, love and enduring hope she left for her family and her friends. Survivors: Kenneth, and his wife Lin; Tim, and Becky Delaune; grandchildren, Allie Nikolaisen and her husband, Tom Walsh and Will and Abby Thurmond; brother, Hal Wingo, his wife Paula, and their children and spouses, Trey and Janice Wingo and Nancie and Bob Wake; and great-nieces and nephews, Chelsea and Chappy Wingo, and Harrison and Andrew Dilday.
Published in Star-Telegram on June 7, 2017