Thurman Earl Lewis was born in Oklahoma on January 7, 1942, to Queva Crhistina Lewis and Flavis Arch Latham. He entered into eternal rest on October 16, 2025, in Fresno, California at the age of 83 years. He attended Laton High School and graduated in 1960.

He was proud of serving his country, he was honorable discharge from the Army in 1968. Thurman was a man of few words, but when it came to baseball, he would share his point of view on the game.