ELKHART — Douglas Thornton, 83, of Elkhart, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014.
Doug was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Jan. 15, 1931, to Douglas Cable Thornton and Mabel Chaplin Thornton. They preceded him in death.
He was brother to Thomas Chaplin Thornton, also now deceased.
Doug grew up in Montreal and moved to Detroit, where he finished high school and went on to attend Walsh Institute of Accountancy. In 1952 he was called to serve his country in the U.S. Army as a chemical weapons specialist in Panama during the Korean War. He served through 1954 and received a National Defense Service medal. After his time in the service, Doug was proud to gain his citizenship to the U.S. in 1954; it was also the year he met his wife, Katherine Mavroganes. They married on Sept. 24, 1955.
Doug and Katherine moved to Elkhart in 1965, where he had a long career in business and community service. He retired as 1st Deputy Assessor with the Elkhart County Assessor's Office, and up to his death served on the county's appeals board. He was a kind, fair and thoughtful boss, always making the work envirerment a comfortable place to be. He was a longtime member of the Elkhart Noon Exchange Club, where he had many roles, including president.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Katherine; three children, Janet (Craig) Bennett of South Bend, Carol (Steve) Dierckes of Carmel and Christopher (Julie) Thornton of South Bend; and 11 grandchildren, Daniel, Megan, Brittany, Zachary, Kelly (Jeff), Michael, Christopher, Jack, Lincoln, Allison and Talia. As well as numerous friends, family and employees that will miss him.
Visitation was held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, and a memorial service immediately following. He was buried in Rice Cemetery with full military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elkhart Center for Hospice Care. Information may be obtained at www.foundationforhospice.org.
Doug was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Jan. 15, 1931, to Douglas Cable Thornton and Mabel Chaplin Thornton. They preceded him in death.
He was brother to Thomas Chaplin Thornton, also now deceased.
Doug grew up in Montreal and moved to Detroit, where he finished high school and went on to attend Walsh Institute of Accountancy. In 1952 he was called to serve his country in the U.S. Army as a chemical weapons specialist in Panama during the Korean War. He served through 1954 and received a National Defense Service medal. After his time in the service, Doug was proud to gain his citizenship to the U.S. in 1954; it was also the year he met his wife, Katherine Mavroganes. They married on Sept. 24, 1955.
Doug and Katherine moved to Elkhart in 1965, where he had a long career in business and community service. He retired as 1st Deputy Assessor with the Elkhart County Assessor's Office, and up to his death served on the county's appeals board. He was a kind, fair and thoughtful boss, always making the work envirerment a comfortable place to be. He was a longtime member of the Elkhart Noon Exchange Club, where he had many roles, including president.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Katherine; three children, Janet (Craig) Bennett of South Bend, Carol (Steve) Dierckes of Carmel and Christopher (Julie) Thornton of South Bend; and 11 grandchildren, Daniel, Megan, Brittany, Zachary, Kelly (Jeff), Michael, Christopher, Jack, Lincoln, Allison and Talia. As well as numerous friends, family and employees that will miss him.
Visitation was held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, and a memorial service immediately following. He was buried in Rice Cemetery with full military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elkhart Center for Hospice Care. Information may be obtained at www.foundationforhospice.org.
ELKHART — Douglas Thornton, 83, of Elkhart, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014.
Doug was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Jan. 15, 1931, to Douglas Cable Thornton and Mabel Chaplin Thornton. They preceded him in death.
He was brother to Thomas Chaplin Thornton, also now deceased.
Doug grew up in Montreal and moved to Detroit, where he finished high school and went on to attend Walsh Institute of Accountancy. In 1952 he was called to serve his country in the U.S. Army as a chemical weapons specialist in Panama during the Korean War. He served through 1954 and received a National Defense Service medal. After his time in the service, Doug was proud to gain his citizenship to the U.S. in 1954; it was also the year he met his wife, Katherine Mavroganes. They married on Sept. 24, 1955.
Doug and Katherine moved to Elkhart in 1965, where he had a long career in business and community service. He retired as 1st Deputy Assessor with the Elkhart County Assessor's Office, and up to his death served on the county's appeals board. He was a kind, fair and thoughtful boss, always making the work envirerment a comfortable place to be. He was a longtime member of the Elkhart Noon Exchange Club, where he had many roles, including president.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Katherine; three children, Janet (Craig) Bennett of South Bend, Carol (Steve) Dierckes of Carmel and Christopher (Julie) Thornton of South Bend; and 11 grandchildren, Daniel, Megan, Brittany, Zachary, Kelly (Jeff), Michael, Christopher, Jack, Lincoln, Allison and Talia. As well as numerous friends, family and employees that will miss him.
Visitation was held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, and a memorial service immediately following. He was buried in Rice Cemetery with full military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elkhart Center for Hospice Care. Information may be obtained at www.foundationforhospice.org.
Doug was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Jan. 15, 1931, to Douglas Cable Thornton and Mabel Chaplin Thornton. They preceded him in death.
He was brother to Thomas Chaplin Thornton, also now deceased.
Doug grew up in Montreal and moved to Detroit, where he finished high school and went on to attend Walsh Institute of Accountancy. In 1952 he was called to serve his country in the U.S. Army as a chemical weapons specialist in Panama during the Korean War. He served through 1954 and received a National Defense Service medal. After his time in the service, Doug was proud to gain his citizenship to the U.S. in 1954; it was also the year he met his wife, Katherine Mavroganes. They married on Sept. 24, 1955.
Doug and Katherine moved to Elkhart in 1965, where he had a long career in business and community service. He retired as 1st Deputy Assessor with the Elkhart County Assessor's Office, and up to his death served on the county's appeals board. He was a kind, fair and thoughtful boss, always making the work envirerment a comfortable place to be. He was a longtime member of the Elkhart Noon Exchange Club, where he had many roles, including president.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Katherine; three children, Janet (Craig) Bennett of South Bend, Carol (Steve) Dierckes of Carmel and Christopher (Julie) Thornton of South Bend; and 11 grandchildren, Daniel, Megan, Brittany, Zachary, Kelly (Jeff), Michael, Christopher, Jack, Lincoln, Allison and Talia. As well as numerous friends, family and employees that will miss him.
Visitation was held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, and a memorial service immediately following. He was buried in Rice Cemetery with full military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elkhart Center for Hospice Care. Information may be obtained at www.foundationforhospice.org.
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