Leroy Thurman, a native of Maury County, lived with his wife Paulene V. Barlar Thurman and family on Covey Hollow Rd the latter part of his life. He was a Carpenter & family man around Maury County for 50 years or more. He never missed a family gathering that I remember and always a great conversationalist. An Uncle to Wayne Austin & his five siblings and the Father of Royce Glen Thurman & Wanda Thurman Jones.
THURMAN, Leroy, 25 Sep 1914 - 8 Jun 2003. (Giles Co. native; son of James Ervin & Josie Elizabeth Williamson Thurman, husband of Paulene V. Barlar Thurman, married 1 Nov 1947; preceded in death by sisters, Thelma J. Beaver and Lottie R. Lancaster, brother James L. Thurman and half-sisters Lacy Williamson and Lillie Thurman Weatherford; half-brother, Marshall Thurman.)
and
THURMAN, Pauline Virginia Barlar, 14 May 1917 - 31 Jan 2013. "Mother" (wife of Leroy Thurman, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Barlar & Lela Mae Coffee Barlar. Parents of Wanda G. Jones & Royce Glenn Thurman. born at Barlar Springs between McCains & Culleoka, Maury County Tennessee.)
Pauline Virginia Barlar Thurman, 95, homemaker and long-time resident of Covey Hollow Road in the Culleoka Community, died Thursday, January 31, 2013 at NHC Hillview.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. David McGregor officiating. Burial followed in Lynnwood Cemetery. The family visited with friends Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorials to Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th Street, Columbia 38401. Notes of condolence were extended at oakesandnichols.com.
The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Thomas Jefferson Barlar and Lela Mae Coffey Barlar and attended school in the Mynders Community (McCains/Bigbyville). She was a long-time member of McCains Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
During World War II, Mrs. Thurman went to Utah and worked as a "Rosie the Riveter*" repairing B-24 Bombers as did many young women to aid the war effort. An excellent seamstress, she loved making clothes for family members and enjoyed gardening.
Paulene was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Smith Thurman on June 8, 2003.
Survivors include her daughter, Wanda Gale Jones of Columbia; Royce Glenn (Connie) Thurman of Columbia; grandchildren, Brian Caleb (Laura) Thurman, John Jeremiah Jones, Cody Lee Jones, and Trenton Barkley (Jill) Jones; great-grandchildren, John Bryson Jones and Landry Owen Jones; two step-great-grandchildren, Paxton Pique and Caden Pique; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Dennis Jones; sisters, Dolly Davis and Ruby Lee Austin; and brother, Claxton Barlar.
Her grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers.
* "Rosie the Riveter" was a lady that gained notoriety during the 2nd World War when she out-did her male competitors in installing rivets for the B-24 Bomber Aircraft being built new for the war effort.
Photos by Wayne Austin. Information by Mary Bob McClain Richardson from the obituary 15 Apr 2009.
