Jackie D. Thornton Sr.'s Obituary
Jackie D. Thornton, Sr. 1943 - 2017
Jackie D. "Jack" Thornton Sr., 73, of Chesapeake, Ohio, was called home gently by God on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, while being held in his wife’s arms and with his children by his side in St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va. Jack was the son of the late Floyd "Jack" and Helen Stumbo Thornton. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Sue Lester Thornton; one sister, JoAnn Galloway; two brothers-in-law, Jack Galloway and Roger Tackett; a stepbrother, Paul Thornton; a stepsister, Colleen Dunfee; and a stepson, Joseph Dunfee. He retired from the HVAC shop at AK Steel. He was the owner operator of Thornton Refrigeration Services. He was a member of Perkins Ridge Baptist Church where he also served as a devoted Trustee. Jack is survived by his wife of 26 years, Judy Dunfee Thornton; one son, Dale Thornton (Heather McCoy) of Wheelersburg, Ohio; three daughters, Tana (John) Grubbs of Flatwoods, Ky., Julie (Rob) Horn of Ironton, Ohio and Melanie Hackworth of Raceland, KY; a stepson, Timothy Dunfee of Willow Wood, Ohio; five grandchildren, Morgan, Cassidy, Jonathan, Brooklyn and Joey; and a special brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jane and Randy Tredway and their children; sister-in-law Joyce Tackett; and several nieces and nephews. In 1984 Joey and Timmy’s father suddenly passed away four or five years later they were sweetly embraced by Jack and they became father and sons. Jack and Timmy very successfully developed Thornton Service Corp. renting interplant vehicles to AK Middletown and Ashland works. When the need arose the other sons, son-in-law and Roger were right there to help. Jack’s health began to deteriorate after the death of his step son Joey two and half years ago. Jack was a devoted Christian and loved his Church family. His Church family is unbelievably close and caring for one another. Jack and Judy were hardly ever seen apart rather it was praising God or working on their newly purchased home. Jack and Judy also enjoyed many travels throughout the years spending three months in Alaska and also a winter long vacation in Daytona, Florida with many visits from the children. He always told Judy he hoped God called him home first because his heart would be torn without her and he would anxiously be waiting for her to join him. Funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday, January 16, 2017 at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, Ohio. Burial will follow in Perkins Ridge Cemetery, Willow Wood, Ohio. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cleveland Clinic Cardiology Research or St. Jude's Children Hospital. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall
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