Cecil Harold Thornton Jr.
SAVANNAH, Mo. – Cecil Harold Thornton Jr. 91, of Savannah, Missouri, passed away Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in a St. Joseph health care center. He was born July 30, 1932, in Doniphan County, Kansas, son of the late Helen and Cecil Thornton Sr. He married Helen Hendrix on May 28, 1960, she preceded him in death on Dec. 26, 2023.
Cecil worked at Armour & Company, Swift Meat Packaging, Noma Lites, and retired from Union Pacific Railroad as a Switchman. He served in the United States Army. Cecil enjoyed going to the boat, and playing poker at the family reunions. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife, Helen June Thornton; parents; daughter, Patricia Patanaittikul; brother, Daniel Thornton; and sister, Virginia Coffee.
Survivors include: son, James “Jim” (Keiko) Thornton; daughter, Marie (Arnold “Ozzy”) Jensen, both of St. Joseph; step- daughter, Penny Gastineau (Jack Blanton), of Hiawatha, Kansas; stepson, Gary Elder (Valerie Mackley), St. Joseph; sisters, Margie Layman, Berryton, Kansas, Betty (Henry) Bibb, St. Joseph and Nancy Hartman, Excelsior Springs, Missouri; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the Rupp Funeral Home, with a Graveside Memorial Service and inurnment for both Cecil and Helen with Army Military Honors will be conducted at 3 p.m. Friday at the Courter-Ritchey Cemetery, Troy, Kansas. Rupp Funeral home in charge of arrangements.
Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com