Gene Thornton

Eugene ‘Gene’ Thornton, 76 of Beverly Hills, Florida died on Friday, March 17, 2017. He was born in Oregon City, Oregon to Earl Dean Taylor Thornton and Leona (Bailey) Thornton on Thursday. April 4, 1940. Gene retired after 20 years of service as a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force and was honored with the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in 1966 and the Strategic Air Command Combat Ready Medal. After his service to our country; he was an aircraft mechanic at the Crystal River Airport, worked at Florida Power as a mechanic, worked globally as a machinist with Framatone at various power plants and was an airplane mechanic with Eastern Airlines. He was a member of the VFW Post #10087 in Beverly Hills, the American Legion Post #155, was a member of Sertoma and the Masonic Lodge. Gene enjoyed flying, watching NASCAR and deer hunting.

Gene was preceded in death by his sisters, Beverly Bates and Linda Howe.

Survivors include his wife, Carole Thornton of Beverly Hills, Florida; sons, Jeffrey Thornton and wife Cindy of Tallahassee, Florida, Richard Schaefer and wife April of Roseville, Illinois and Robert Schaefer of Geneva, Illinois; daughter, Cheryl Thornton Love and husband Dale of Brooksville, Florida, Charleen Thornton Berg and husband Jimmy of Brooksville, Florida; Catherine Rosser and husband Barry of Deluth, Georgia, Brenda Martinis and husband Richard of Inverness, Florida and Kristen Schaefer of Atlanta, Georgia; 17 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation, Wednesday, March 22, 2017 beginning at 12:00 PM at Fero Funeral Home with Military Honors following at 2:00 PM at Fero Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gene’s memory to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

Arrangements entrusted to

Fero Funeral Home

www.ferofuneralhome.com