Almus J. Thornton

Funeral services for Almus J. Thornton, 89, of Anniston, will be 11 am Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at Gray Brown-Service Chapel with Rev. Peter Hawker officiating. Burial will follow at Oakridge Cemetery in Pell City. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 10 – 11 am at the funeral home. Mr. Thornton died Saturday, June 30, 2012 at his residence.

Survivors include one sister, Christine Green of Montgomery, six nieces; Susan Harper, Gwen Willis, Rita Thornton, Kay Shaw, Sharon Rutherford and Shirley Wooten, six nephews; Wes Thornton, Jerry Thornton, Jimmy Thornton, Mark Thornton, Mike Green, and Gary Willis.

Mr. Thornton is preceded in death by his brothers; Renfroe, Earnest, Ralph, Eugene, and Billy Thornton, one sister, Mada Willis.

Pallbearers will be Nephews.

After attending Auburn University he earned a BA and a graduate degree in Accounting at the University of Alabama. Almus began his accounting career with King & Company in Gadsden. On January 1, 1954, the Anniston Star brought him on board for what became a 51-year career. Almus Thornton was the first Certified Public Accountant on staff and went on to become a board member and the secretary treasurer of the company. He enjoyed his work with his colleagues, as he lived out his career with honesty and integrity.

Almus Thornton was blessed as a part of a large family, and he had a special role with his nieces and nephews. He was an active member of Anniston First United Methodist Church. Almus was a member of the Lions Club where he received the Melvin Jones award and was a Lions Club board member. Almus taught accounting at Jacksonville State University and he was active in the National Association of Accounting.