Raymond Carl Thurow

Madison - Dr. Raymond Carl Thurow, 88, of Madison, Wisconsin, died Thursday, July 30, 2009 at Oakwood Village West.

Ray was born to Carl and Lora Thurow on Christmas Day, 1920 in Aurora, Illinois.

He married Jean E. Shearer in 1942 and they moved to Madison in 1947. It was here they raised their beautiful family of three children.

A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Dentistry's postgraduate orthodontic program, Ray practiced as an orthodontist in Madison from 1947 to 1995. During his career, Ray distinguished himself as an author, inventor, lecturer, teacher and leader in his field. Active in the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and Midwestern Society of Orthodontists (MSO), Ray served as MSO president in 1968, and AAO president in 1979. He was also a founder of the College of Diplomats of the American Board of Orthodontics, which established the annual Ray Thurow Honorary Lecture in appreciation of his lifetime of contributions to the specialty. Ray's military service included World War II and a tour of duty during the Korean War, in which he served in Japan as lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps.

In addition to his family and career, Ray's passions also included trains and travel. In 1972, Ray and Jean set up residence in two railroad cars perched on a hill in Verona. Often traveling by train, Ray and Jean visited nearly every state in the U.S., with a trip to Alaska being their most recent.

Active in many local civic organizations, Ray has been a member of the Downtown Optimist Club since moving to Madison. Additional affiliations include the American Legion, genealogy groups, and the ""Birthday Boys""a group of gentlemen who celebrate their Christmas-time birthdays together annually.

He will be warmly remembered for his wisdom, wit and love of words and their playful uses.

Loving family members who survive Ray include Jean, his wife of 67 years; daughter, Nancy Newton (husband, Mike); and son, David Thurow (wife, Concepcion). Grandchildren include, Carl Lepper (wife, Aimee), Daniel Thurow (wife, Starlit), Geoffrey Thurow and Charles Thurow. Ray is also survived by his sister, Gloria Hauser and brother, Donald Thurow. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Stanley Thurow; and daughter, Barbara Meineke.

Visitation will be at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Rd, Madison on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memory Gardens.