Nelle R. Thornley

Nelle Christena Robinson was born to Harrison and Alice Foster Robinson in their farm home south of Prentice, Illinois, on January 7, 1912—a cold (27 degrees below zero) winter day. She graduated from Berea Grade School and Jacksonville High School with the class of 1930. She married Richard Thornley on January 23, 1937, in the Ashland Methodist Church Parsonage. Mr. Thornley predeceased her on October 11, 1990.

Mrs. Thornley was the last living member of her generation—outliving all her siblings Carroll (half-brother), Elizabeth Flinn, Ralph, George, Floyd, Eleanor Sullivan, Lucy Kellogg, and Marshall), their spouses, and her husband’s siblings and spouses.

She is survived by her son, Harrison Richard Thornley of Ashland, and daughters, Barbara (husband Gary) Koritz of Champaign, IL, and Eleanor (husband Jon) DeMoss of Chicago, IL. In addition, she is survived by her grandchildren, Matthew (wife Sarah Joyce) Koritz of River Forest, IL, Laura Koritz of Newark, Vermont, and Marc DeMoss of Paris, France. There are also three great-grandchildren: Katherine, Anna, and Benjamin Koritz and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Thornley had been a member of the Berea Christian Church and the Ashland Methodist Church. As a member of the Methodist Church, she was chairman of the Ruth Circle. She was a member of the Ashland Woman’s Club, where she had served as treasurer. She had been a co-chairman of a committee which sponsored swimming lessons in the summer for the youth of the area in local pools.

She was one of the last members of a bridge club which met weekly for over fifty years. She enjoyed needlepoint, knitting, quilting, decoupage, and reading.

Services are under the direction of Bisch Funeral Home West, 2931 S. Koke Mill Rd., Springfield where visitation will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 11 am until time of the funeral service at 1 pm. The funeral service will also be held at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Walnut Ridge Cemetery, Virginia, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Concordia Village, 4101 W. Iles Ave., Springfield, IL 62711.