Dr. Thurston L. Gaines Jr.

Our mother lost a husband and my siblings and I lost our father, Thurston L. Gaines, Jr., on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31, 2016. He had multiple health issues ... Multiple Myeloma cancer, pneumonia, congestive heart failure and kidney disease to name a few, so the deck was stacked against him. The Myeloma would have eventually taken him, but complications due to the pneumonia prevented him from making his final laps around the sun. His goal was to outlive his mother, who died at the age of 103. To say he used his 94-years well, would be an understatement. His many achievements in life almost equal his years of life. His crowning jewel was definitely marrying our mother, Jacqueline K. Gaines. In February 2017 they would have celebrated 73-years of marriage.

He was one of the original Tuskegee Airman Combat Fighter Pilots during WWII. There are unfortunately no more than a handful of those brave heroic pilots still alive. After graduating from Class 44G in Tuskegee, Alabama he flew the P-51 Mustangs into combat. He was one of the famous Red Tails, the Army’s first Black aviators in the Army Air Corp. Our father was shot down on his 25th mission while strafing a munitions train in Erding, Germany. He was quickly captured and held as a POW in Stalag VIIA in Moosburg, Germany until the camp was liberated by Gen. George Patton’s Army.

Our father was the recipient of numerous military honors including the Purple Heart and the Congressional Gold Medal. After serving his country with honor and distinction, Lt. Thurston L. Gaines, Jr. became Dr. Thurston L. Gaines, Jr., a surgeon living in Long Island, New York and the Medical Examiner for Nassau County. He was a man who demanded perfection of himself (or as close as any mere mortal can get), had a passion for golf, playing the piano, an unwavering love for our mother and had an amazing vocabulary. He'd often leave you scratching your head wondering ... "What the hell did that mean?" as you'd try to decipher the meaning of a single word critical to the meaning of a sentence. He also knew more than a little about a lot of stuff.

Our parents eventually retired to Missouri City, Texas, then moved to Arizona, then to southern California to be closer to family. In addition to our mother (whom he affectionately referred to as “My Friend”), our dad is survived by his daughter Beverly, his two sons Terry & Billy and his six grandchildren ... all boys!

We all take comfort in knowing he's in good company up there.

May you have a gentle tailwind on your journey skyward.

Till we meet again.

Arrangements under the direction of TRIDENT SOCIETY - Rancho Mirage, Rancho Mirage, CA.