Ruth Ivey Thornton

Anniston - Funeral services for Mrs. Ruth Walker Thornton, 91 of Anniston will be Friday, September 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Chapel Hill Funeral Home with Rev. Sandra Felkins officiating. Mrs. Thornton will lie in state at the funeral home one hour prior to the service with burial in the mausoleum at Anniston Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Chapel Hill Funeral Home beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Mrs. Thornton was born in Bolton, GA and has lived in Anniston, Al for the last 51 years. She passed on September 2, 2014 at Charlton Place Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Prattville, Al.

Mrs. Thornton is preceded in death by her parents Roling Edwards Walker and Daisy Ivey; husband, MAJ Herbert Whitmore Thornton. Mrs. Thornton was the youngest and last surviving of 11 children. Survivors include her daughter, Tracey Elaine Kinard and husband Glen of Prattville, Al; sons, COL (Ret) Robert E. Thornton and wife Shelby of Jacksonville, Craig D. Thornton and wife Susan of Anniston, and Kevin L. Thornton and wife Becky of Goose Creek, SC. Mrs. Thornton was “grandma” and “Maco” to eleven grandchildren, spouses and great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be great-grandchildren, Christopher Thornton, Will Thornton, Phillip Thornton, Noah Gardner, Colten Lacy, Blair Lacy, and Brock Lacy. Honorary pallbearers will be Lucas Whiddon and Caden Lacy.

Mrs. Thornton was a graduate of West Fulton (GA) High School and served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II where she served as a ship-to-shore radio operator with duty in Miami, FL and Charleston, SC. In Charleston, she met and married husband, Herbert who was also in the Coast Guard. Later she worked in the US Civil Service to include service at Ft. McClellan, AL in the installation personnel office. She enjoyed the outdoors and especially water related sports including boating and fishing.

The family request in lieu of flowers and in honor of her love for animals that donations be made in her name to the Anniston Animal Shelter at www.theanimalshelter.net or the Animal Shelter, 1201 Parkwood Dr., Anniston, Al 36201.