Granddad's Homecoming

My grandfather went to be with the Lord yesterday...what a glorious homecoming that was I'm sure.  He wasn't even suppose to be around, not to mention for 90 years.  His mother had the first c-section in Tennessee in 1922.  When the doctor made his cut, he cut right into the back of baby Albert...realizing his mistake, he retrieved the baby and put what he thought was the lifeless body into a box in the corner and got busy saving Minnie Thornton's life.  Minnie's sister saw the baby, stopped the bleeding and alerted the doctors that this baby was still alive.  I don't know much of the story after this but I do know when I was a child of about 7-8 years old, when swimming in the pool with my Granddad, we could all stick our entire arm in the scar in his back.  Amazing....God surely had a plan for that baby's life.  90 years later we celebrate what you would call a miracle.  A wife of 68 (almost 69 years), three children, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren (with one on the way).  My grandfather was loved by all...truly.  He learned to love all as well. He was funny and tricky and vibrant.  He was joking with us just a day before his passing.  I might take this week to relive some of my favorite Granddad stories..

Albert Eugene (Gene) Thornton, Jr., 90, of Tallahassee passed away Sunday, February 3, 2013.  He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Angelina Thornton.

The service will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 2015 Fleischmann Road, Tallahassee, Florida.

Mr. Thornton was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 8, 1922, and moved to Tallahassee at age 3.   He graduated from Leon High School in 1941 and served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.  Along with his family, he owned the Capital City Lumber Company on Gaines Street, a business in operation from 1927 until 1974.  He also worked at Lowe’s on Pensacola Street and retired at age 85, from J.H. Dowling Inc.  He was a founding member of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and a loyal volunteer for Elder Care Services delivering Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include three children, D’Anna (John) Wakefield of Middleburg, Florida; Albert (Bert) Eugene Thornton, III (Shirley) of Tallahassee; Ginger (Lemuel) Cooksey of Crawfordville; and sister Leone Durrance of Lakeland, Fl.  Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Mark (Heather)Wakefield and Sarah Wakefield, Kathryn (John) Gay, Nicholas Thornton, Kristin and Jake Cooksey, Angelee (Michael) Milgate; seven great-grandchildren: Kevin, Emily, John-Daniel, Kyra, Brenna, Molly and Gavin.  Mr. Thornton is also survived by his faithful dog, Timmy.

Mr. Thornton was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Minnie Thornton, his sister Virginia Marshall and great-grandchild, Angel Cooksey.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Holy Comforter Episcopal Church or Elder Care Services of Tallahassee, Florida.