Douglas Wade Thornton Jr.
June 1, 1922 - December 23, 2017
Douglas Wade Thornton, Jr., of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2017 after a brief illness. He was 95 years young. Douglas was born in Atlanta, GA on June 1, 1922 and was the only child of Ethel Morel Dunn and Douglas Wade Thornton, Sr. Growing up in the Druid Hills area of Atlanta, he graduated from Boys High School in 1940. He then graduated from University of Georgia with an undergraduate degree in French. At University of Georgia, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played the violin and viola in the university orchestra. After graduation, he bravely served in WWII in the Pacific Front in the Philippines and Occupied Japan in the 24th Infantry Division. He was wounded and later received a Purple Heart and 3 bronze star medals. After being discharged from the army, he married his first wife, Wilma Pauline Kidd, in 1945 and attended law school at the University of Georgia.
After graduation from Law School in 1947, Douglas and Wilma opened up a small ice-cream parlour in Waycross, Georgia. Around 1957, Douglas sold his ice cream store and moved the family to Gainesville, GA to work for Ralston-Purina in their accounting department. In 1961, the family moved to Atlanta area and Douglas took a position with Scott Hudgens, Realty and Mortgage. Douglas later became the budget officer for the Secretary of state of Georgia until he retired in 1985.
After the death of his first wife in 2002, Douglas moved to Houston, Texas in 2005 to be closer to the family. Shortly after arriving in Houston, Douglas met Margaret Harp. They were married on May 20, 2006. Doug and Margaret spent 11 wonderful years together.
Douglas always believed in serving others. He was an adult Sunday school teacher, Lay Leader, and Stewardship chairperson in the Methodist Church. He was also a weekly (an oldest volunteer) at Memorial Herman Memorial City Hospital in Houston. In addition, he was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
At the time of his death, he was a member of John Knox Presbyterian Church. Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Douglas Wade Thornton, Sr., His first wife, Wilma Pauline Kidd Thornton, and his grandson, Gregory Wade Schutz. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Chapman-Thornton, son, Richard Leon Thornton, his daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Mark Schutz, granddaughter and husband Laura and David Pearce. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Nancy Braham, stepson, William Carter, and stepgranddaughter, Becky Braham.
A Memorial service will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 27 at 3:00 p.m. Interment of ashes will be held at a later date at Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Douglas' favorite charity, the food bank at Fairhaven Methodist Church.
American Heritage Funeral Home
June 1, 1922 - December 23, 2017
Douglas Wade Thornton, Jr., of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2017 after a brief illness. He was 95 years young. Douglas was born in Atlanta, GA on June 1, 1922 and was the only child of Ethel Morel Dunn and Douglas Wade Thornton, Sr. Growing up in the Druid Hills area of Atlanta, he graduated from Boys High School in 1940. He then graduated from University of Georgia with an undergraduate degree in French. At University of Georgia, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played the violin and viola in the university orchestra. After graduation, he bravely served in WWII in the Pacific Front in the Philippines and Occupied Japan in the 24th Infantry Division. He was wounded and later received a Purple Heart and 3 bronze star medals. After being discharged from the army, he married his first wife, Wilma Pauline Kidd, in 1945 and attended law school at the University of Georgia.
After graduation from Law School in 1947, Douglas and Wilma opened up a small ice-cream parlour in Waycross, Georgia. Around 1957, Douglas sold his ice cream store and moved the family to Gainesville, GA to work for Ralston-Purina in their accounting department. In 1961, the family moved to Atlanta area and Douglas took a position with Scott Hudgens, Realty and Mortgage. Douglas later became the budget officer for the Secretary of state of Georgia until he retired in 1985.
After the death of his first wife in 2002, Douglas moved to Houston, Texas in 2005 to be closer to the family. Shortly after arriving in Houston, Douglas met Margaret Harp. They were married on May 20, 2006. Doug and Margaret spent 11 wonderful years together.
Douglas always believed in serving others. He was an adult Sunday school teacher, Lay Leader, and Stewardship chairperson in the Methodist Church. He was also a weekly (an oldest volunteer) at Memorial Herman Memorial City Hospital in Houston. In addition, he was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
At the time of his death, he was a member of John Knox Presbyterian Church. Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Douglas Wade Thornton, Sr., His first wife, Wilma Pauline Kidd Thornton, and his grandson, Gregory Wade Schutz. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Chapman-Thornton, son, Richard Leon Thornton, his daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Mark Schutz, granddaughter and husband Laura and David Pearce. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Nancy Braham, stepson, William Carter, and stepgranddaughter, Becky Braham.
A Memorial service will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 27 at 3:00 p.m. Interment of ashes will be held at a later date at Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Douglas' favorite charity, the food bank at Fairhaven Methodist Church.
American Heritage Funeral Home
Douglas Wade Thornton Jr.
June 1, 1922 - December 23, 2017
Douglas Wade Thornton, Jr., of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2017 after a brief illness. He was 95 years young. Douglas was born in Atlanta, GA on June 1, 1922 and was the only child of Ethel Morel Dunn and Douglas Wade Thornton, Sr. Growing up in the Druid Hills area of Atlanta, he graduated from Boys High School in 1940. He then graduated from University of Georgia with an undergraduate degree in French. At University of Georgia, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played the violin and viola in the university orchestra. After graduation, he bravely served in WWII in the Pacific Front in the Philippines and Occupied Japan in the 24th Infantry Division. He was wounded and later received a Purple Heart and 3 bronze star medals. After being discharged from the army, he married his first wife, Wilma Pauline Kidd, in 1945 and attended law school at the University of Georgia.
After graduation from Law School in 1947, Douglas and Wilma opened up a small ice-cream parlour in Waycross, Georgia. Around 1957, Douglas sold his ice cream store and moved the family to Gainesville, GA to work for Ralston-Purina in their accounting department. In 1961, the family moved to Atlanta area and Douglas took a position with Scott Hudgens, Realty and Mortgage. Douglas later became the budget officer for the Secretary of state of Georgia until he retired in 1985.
After the death of his first wife in 2002, Douglas moved to Houston, Texas in 2005 to be closer to the family. Shortly after arriving in Houston, Douglas met Margaret Harp. They were married on May 20, 2006. Doug and Margaret spent 11 wonderful years together.
Douglas always believed in serving others. He was an adult Sunday school teacher, Lay Leader, and Stewardship chairperson in the Methodist Church. He was also a weekly (an oldest volunteer) at Memorial Herman Memorial City Hospital in Houston. In addition, he was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
At the time of his death, he was a member of John Knox Presbyterian Church. Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Douglas Wade Thornton, Sr., His first wife, Wilma Pauline Kidd Thornton, and his grandson, Gregory Wade Schutz. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Chapman-Thornton, son, Richard Leon Thornton, his daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Mark Schutz, granddaughter and husband Laura and David Pearce. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Nancy Braham, stepson, William Carter, and stepgranddaughter, Becky Braham.
A Memorial service will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 27 at 3:00 p.m. Interment of ashes will be held at a later date at Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Douglas' favorite charity, the food bank at Fairhaven Methodist Church.
American Heritage Funeral Home
June 1, 1922 - December 23, 2017
Douglas Wade Thornton, Jr., of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2017 after a brief illness. He was 95 years young. Douglas was born in Atlanta, GA on June 1, 1922 and was the only child of Ethel Morel Dunn and Douglas Wade Thornton, Sr. Growing up in the Druid Hills area of Atlanta, he graduated from Boys High School in 1940. He then graduated from University of Georgia with an undergraduate degree in French. At University of Georgia, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played the violin and viola in the university orchestra. After graduation, he bravely served in WWII in the Pacific Front in the Philippines and Occupied Japan in the 24th Infantry Division. He was wounded and later received a Purple Heart and 3 bronze star medals. After being discharged from the army, he married his first wife, Wilma Pauline Kidd, in 1945 and attended law school at the University of Georgia.
After graduation from Law School in 1947, Douglas and Wilma opened up a small ice-cream parlour in Waycross, Georgia. Around 1957, Douglas sold his ice cream store and moved the family to Gainesville, GA to work for Ralston-Purina in their accounting department. In 1961, the family moved to Atlanta area and Douglas took a position with Scott Hudgens, Realty and Mortgage. Douglas later became the budget officer for the Secretary of state of Georgia until he retired in 1985.
After the death of his first wife in 2002, Douglas moved to Houston, Texas in 2005 to be closer to the family. Shortly after arriving in Houston, Douglas met Margaret Harp. They were married on May 20, 2006. Doug and Margaret spent 11 wonderful years together.
Douglas always believed in serving others. He was an adult Sunday school teacher, Lay Leader, and Stewardship chairperson in the Methodist Church. He was also a weekly (an oldest volunteer) at Memorial Herman Memorial City Hospital in Houston. In addition, he was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
At the time of his death, he was a member of John Knox Presbyterian Church. Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Douglas Wade Thornton, Sr., His first wife, Wilma Pauline Kidd Thornton, and his grandson, Gregory Wade Schutz. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Chapman-Thornton, son, Richard Leon Thornton, his daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Mark Schutz, granddaughter and husband Laura and David Pearce. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Nancy Braham, stepson, William Carter, and stepgranddaughter, Becky Braham.
A Memorial service will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 27 at 3:00 p.m. Interment of ashes will be held at a later date at Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Douglas' favorite charity, the food bank at Fairhaven Methodist Church.
American Heritage Funeral Home
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SGT, US Army, World War II
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