Charles Gilbert Thurston, 88, formerly of Custar, died April 21 at Otterbein Retirement Center, Leipsic. He was born Oct. 6, 1901 in Richfield Township, Henry County to Vinal and Jeanette Elizabeth (Stautzenberger) Thurston. He married Mary Pearl Seiler on June 21, 1925, and she survives. Also surviving are three sons, V. Dale of Pittsburg, PA; Carroll Lee of Farmington Hills, MI; Lowell Edward of Marion; two daughters, Mrs. Jerry (Gloria) Hissong of Vienna, VA; Mrs. Dale (Laurane) Walther, Leipsic; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. John (Mabel) Rudolph of Greeley, CO. Mr. Thurston retired as a farmer in 1972. He was elected Henry County's state representative from 1951-1967. He substituted for Henry County Auditor Ben Young in 1966 and was elected Henry County Auditor for the 1967-68 term. He was appointed executive director of the state retirement commission, serving from 1968-72. He was chief tabulator for seven counties of northwest Ohio during World War I for the corn-hog program. From 1947-1951, he was an instructor for returning veterans at Deshler High School for the government sponsored training school in farming and agriculture. Also during those years, he was a substitute rural mail carrier for Custar and Deshler. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church for more than 63 years. For many years, he also was a member of the former Richfield Township Grange 2286. Services were held April 25 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Deshler, the Revs. Marilyn Chivington and Robert Whitacre officiating. Burial was in Richfield Township Cemetery near Custar.