Aileen Thompson Hurst

Aileen Thompson Hurst, 98, of Salinas, Calif., passed away Dec. 8, 2016. She was born Nov. 8, 1918, in Prescott, Kan., to Claude B and Olga (Faber) Thompson.

She was raised on a farm near Hume, Mo. Aileen grew up on the farm with her family and graduated valedictorian from Hume High School in 1935, two years ahead of her peers. Hume was a very small town, with little or no extracurricular activities. That meant her day was consumed with getting to school very early each day to hitch up and drive the horse-drawn school bus, then immediately home to help milk up to 80 cows.

When she was 12 or 13, during a Sunday school trip to the Fort Scott public swimming pool, she noticed a handsome man showing off on the diving board. The next time they met he was playing trumpet in a local dance band. Aileen and Fred Hurst were married Sept. 4, 1941. Fred taught music in a number of Kansas public schools until moving to Hutchinson in 1955. At that time, Fred joined with George Johnson to manage, and ultimately own, the Hutchinson Music Center until Fred's death in 1975. Aileen worked as chief accountant for Gano-Horace Grain until her retirement in 1979.

After her husband's passing Aileen traveled extensively through Europe, Africa, Alaska, Panama and (in particular) Australia. Her sons were both Marine officers. As they were transferred from one duty station to another she moved nearby to be with her grandchildren.

Aileen is survived by her sons, Lt. Col. Stephen F. Hurst, USMC (Ret) of Salinas, Calif., and Major Douglas M. Hurst, USMC (Ret) of Montpelier, Va.; grandchildren Jennifer Hughes of Marina, Calif., Frederick D. Hurst, Fullerton, Calif., Heather Cashman of Haleiwa, Hawaii, Caitlin Hurst of Crown Point, Ind., Andrew Hurst, Richmond, Va., and Laura Hurst, Springfield, Virginia; great grandchildren Lizzy Stanton of San Francisco, Calif., Madeline Hughes of Marina, Calif., Bobby Hurst of Fullerton, Calif., Jacob Cashman, Dylan Cashman and Taylor Cashman of Haleiwa, Hawaii.

No funeral services are planned. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kan., at a date to be determined.