Thurman Oliver McDaniel

On June 29, 2020; Age 89 of Haddon Township, NJ.  Thurman was the only child of Thurman Osborne McDaniel (Cale, AR) and Gertie Westmoreland (Texarkana, TX-Cale AR area). Born in Texarkana, AR, Thurman had a normal childhood; he delivered newspapers, worked as a soda jerk, and at the local movie theater.  At age 12, after the death of his parents, Thurman went to live with and was raised by, his Aunt Bessie, her husband Raymond Coyle, and their son Robert, in Texarkana, TX. Thurman attended Texarkana High School and Arkansas High School, graduating from Arkansas High School in 1948.  He was a 1950 graduate from Texarkana Jr. College. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Management from Baylor University, in 1955 while proudly serving in the Air Force in Waco, Texas from 1952-1955 as a radar and flying instructor.

He began his working career with Bamberger’s in Newark, NJ and then became a sales representative for Dixon Corporation, selling nylon fittings used in agricultural, food and medical applications. He moved on to work for other agencies and manufacturers eventually forming his own company, The McDaniel Company, retiring in his early seventies.

Thurman married Jane Horakh in 1958 in East Orange, NJ and moved to Haddon Township in 1962 where they raised their two children.  The family became members of the First Baptist Church in Haddonfield in 1963.

Thurman married Carol F. Chew in 1977 and was very active in the Baptist Church.  He taught Sunday School, served on the Boards of many organizations including Christian Education, Finance, Deacons and Property.  Thurman also participated in the YMCA Indian Guides program with his son.

Thurman was Dad to Linda Klein and (the late) Jeffrey T.; Pop-Pop to Granddaughters Kristen Tryon and Mandy Beerhalter, and to Great-Grandsons Owen, Isaac and Eli Oliver Tryon.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Thurman may be made to either The First Baptist Church of Haddonfield, 124 E. Kings Hwy., Haddonfield, NJ 08033, or Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Dr., Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053(www.SamaritanNJ.org).

A Celebration of Life for Thurman will be held at a later date. Interment private.  Please refer to www.kainmurphy.com for updates on Thurman’s Services.