David O. Thrower of San Antonio, TX, passed away peacefully at home on October 2, 2017. He was born on February 6, 1926, the second child of Clive Alonzo Thrower and Jessie Doyle Thrower.
David was born and raised in Mangum, OK. After high school he worked as a government surveyor before attending Catholic seminaries in St. Louis, MO, and San Antonio, TX. He then attended Okmulgee Tech. He moved to Bartlesville, OK, in 1953, working at Phillips Petroleum Company as a draftsman and tool designer. David attended St. John Catholic Church where he joined the Catholic Social Club and met the love of his life, Stella Mae Stockton. They married on September 10, 1955. He was a devoted husband and father, raising 6 children.
After 30 years at Phillips, David worked at Martin Marietta in New Orleans, LA, followed by General Dynamics in San Diego, CA. After retiring, he and Stella lived in Laguna Beach, CA, and McKinney, TX, finally settling in San Antonio, TX.
David was an avid photographer and an early adopter of personal computers and all manner of gadgets. Even into his nineties, David used technology to stay engaged with family, near and far. While David was hard-working and approached life with seriousness, he also possessed a quick and clever sense of humor and a ready smile.
David is survived by son, Kevin Thrower, and daughter-in-law, Jan Ballard Thrower; daughter, Nancy Thrower; daughter, Lisa Thrower Payne, and son-in-law, John Payne; daughter, Brenda Thrower Stubbs; thirteen grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Dorine Thrower Herndon and Gilbert Thrower; and children Gregory Thrower and Mary Thrower Hedbany. He was also predeceased in July by Stella, his "beautiful bride" of almost 62 years.
David will be greatly missed. We will always remember "I love you more".
A funeral Mass for will be held on Friday, October 20, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, 3843 Bulverde Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78259.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to VITAS Healthcare, 8401 Datapoint, Suite 300, San Antonio, TX 78229. VITAS provided David expert and loving hospice care in his final months.
Published in Examiner-Enterprise from Oct. 18 to Nov. 17, 2017