Joe Tindle Thornton was born in Stilwell, Oklahoma on August 2, 1916, to William “Billy” and Ginsie (Tindle) Thornton. He passed away in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on February 4, 2019, at the age of 102 years, six months, and two days.
Joe attended grade school at Wauhillau before Seneca Indian School. He was a graduate of Chillocco where he was a boxer and began an Archery career by hunting rabbit.
Enlisting in the US Army he went into the Calvary Division. While stationed at Fort Sill Army Post he earned the award of Welter Weight Boxing Champion
He married Geneva Payne in 1938 and they had 23 years together with two children; Ramona Kay, and Ken. During WWII he was a radio man and worked at WWOR in Washington D.C.
He met Helen Marie when she went to purchase archery supples. He taught her to shoot and she was awarded several accolades of her own. Joe was World Champion Archer one year and several runner ups over his Archery Career. The US Archery team, in 1961, competed in Oslo, Norway where he took Gold and set three world records. The following year he won the British National Championship, and in 1970 he won the U.S. National Championship. For his archery skill he was inducted in to the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978, and the Chillocco Indian School Hall of Fame in 1985.
In August of 1963, Joe married Helen in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the preachers residence following an archery tournament.
In Tahlequah he began a career with a radio shop before opening Thornton TV where they sold and repaired televisions along with archery and black powder supplies, and other appliances. Retiring in 1987.
Joe was Baptized at Park Hill Baptist and he and Helen have been members for many years.
Preceding him in death are his parents, a grand son Joe Don Thornton; and brothers and sisters, Ruby, Peggy, Leon, and Kenneth.
Joe is survived by his wife Helen of the home; Children, Ramona Kay Rutherford of Hulbert, Kenneth Joe Thornton and wife Charlene of Tahlequah, Stephen W. Brady of Broken Arrow, and Patricia LaDawn Vandiver and husband Randy of Muskogee, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; a brother Perry A. Thornton and wife Inge of Denver, CO.
Joe attended grade school at Wauhillau before Seneca Indian School. He was a graduate of Chillocco where he was a boxer and began an Archery career by hunting rabbit.
Enlisting in the US Army he went into the Calvary Division. While stationed at Fort Sill Army Post he earned the award of Welter Weight Boxing Champion
He married Geneva Payne in 1938 and they had 23 years together with two children; Ramona Kay, and Ken. During WWII he was a radio man and worked at WWOR in Washington D.C.
He met Helen Marie when she went to purchase archery supples. He taught her to shoot and she was awarded several accolades of her own. Joe was World Champion Archer one year and several runner ups over his Archery Career. The US Archery team, in 1961, competed in Oslo, Norway where he took Gold and set three world records. The following year he won the British National Championship, and in 1970 he won the U.S. National Championship. For his archery skill he was inducted in to the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978, and the Chillocco Indian School Hall of Fame in 1985.
In August of 1963, Joe married Helen in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the preachers residence following an archery tournament.
In Tahlequah he began a career with a radio shop before opening Thornton TV where they sold and repaired televisions along with archery and black powder supplies, and other appliances. Retiring in 1987.
Joe was Baptized at Park Hill Baptist and he and Helen have been members for many years.
Preceding him in death are his parents, a grand son Joe Don Thornton; and brothers and sisters, Ruby, Peggy, Leon, and Kenneth.
Joe is survived by his wife Helen of the home; Children, Ramona Kay Rutherford of Hulbert, Kenneth Joe Thornton and wife Charlene of Tahlequah, Stephen W. Brady of Broken Arrow, and Patricia LaDawn Vandiver and husband Randy of Muskogee, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; a brother Perry A. Thornton and wife Inge of Denver, CO.
Joe Tindle Thornton was born in Stilwell, Oklahoma on August 2, 1916, to William “Billy” and Ginsie (Tindle) Thornton. He passed away in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on February 4, 2019, at the age of 102 years, six months, and two days.
Joe attended grade school at Wauhillau before Seneca Indian School. He was a graduate of Chillocco where he was a boxer and began an Archery career by hunting rabbit.
Enlisting in the US Army he went into the Calvary Division. While stationed at Fort Sill Army Post he earned the award of Welter Weight Boxing Champion
He married Geneva Payne in 1938 and they had 23 years together with two children; Ramona Kay, and Ken. During WWII he was a radio man and worked at WWOR in Washington D.C.
He met Helen Marie when she went to purchase archery supples. He taught her to shoot and she was awarded several accolades of her own. Joe was World Champion Archer one year and several runner ups over his Archery Career. The US Archery team, in 1961, competed in Oslo, Norway where he took Gold and set three world records. The following year he won the British National Championship, and in 1970 he won the U.S. National Championship. For his archery skill he was inducted in to the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978, and the Chillocco Indian School Hall of Fame in 1985.
In August of 1963, Joe married Helen in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the preachers residence following an archery tournament.
In Tahlequah he began a career with a radio shop before opening Thornton TV where they sold and repaired televisions along with archery and black powder supplies, and other appliances. Retiring in 1987.
Joe was Baptized at Park Hill Baptist and he and Helen have been members for many years.
Preceding him in death are his parents, a grand son Joe Don Thornton; and brothers and sisters, Ruby, Peggy, Leon, and Kenneth.
Joe is survived by his wife Helen of the home; Children, Ramona Kay Rutherford of Hulbert, Kenneth Joe Thornton and wife Charlene of Tahlequah, Stephen W. Brady of Broken Arrow, and Patricia LaDawn Vandiver and husband Randy of Muskogee, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; a brother Perry A. Thornton and wife Inge of Denver, CO.
Joe attended grade school at Wauhillau before Seneca Indian School. He was a graduate of Chillocco where he was a boxer and began an Archery career by hunting rabbit.
Enlisting in the US Army he went into the Calvary Division. While stationed at Fort Sill Army Post he earned the award of Welter Weight Boxing Champion
He married Geneva Payne in 1938 and they had 23 years together with two children; Ramona Kay, and Ken. During WWII he was a radio man and worked at WWOR in Washington D.C.
He met Helen Marie when she went to purchase archery supples. He taught her to shoot and she was awarded several accolades of her own. Joe was World Champion Archer one year and several runner ups over his Archery Career. The US Archery team, in 1961, competed in Oslo, Norway where he took Gold and set three world records. The following year he won the British National Championship, and in 1970 he won the U.S. National Championship. For his archery skill he was inducted in to the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978, and the Chillocco Indian School Hall of Fame in 1985.
In August of 1963, Joe married Helen in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the preachers residence following an archery tournament.
In Tahlequah he began a career with a radio shop before opening Thornton TV where they sold and repaired televisions along with archery and black powder supplies, and other appliances. Retiring in 1987.
Joe was Baptized at Park Hill Baptist and he and Helen have been members for many years.
Preceding him in death are his parents, a grand son Joe Don Thornton; and brothers and sisters, Ruby, Peggy, Leon, and Kenneth.
Joe is survived by his wife Helen of the home; Children, Ramona Kay Rutherford of Hulbert, Kenneth Joe Thornton and wife Charlene of Tahlequah, Stephen W. Brady of Broken Arrow, and Patricia LaDawn Vandiver and husband Randy of Muskogee, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; a brother Perry A. Thornton and wife Inge of Denver, CO.
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