Thornton, Ruth M. (1911-2008)
THORNTON, MILLER, CREAMER, TURNER, GINSBURG, SASMANZER, THORTON-KOLBE, TRAVIS
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/11/2010 at 13:01:56
Ruth M. Thornton - Mar. 22, 1911 - Jan. 22, 2008
Ruth M. Thornton, age 96, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, in the Methodist Manor Retirement Community at Storm Lake, Iowa.
Ruth Mina (Miller) Thornton was born on March 22, 1911 to William and Mary (Creamer) Miller in Sexton, Iowa. Ruth entered high school in Algona at age 12 and graduated from Algona High School. She attended Morningside College in Sioux City, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree and major in mathematics. She was initiated into Beta Beta Beta Honorary. Ruth taught mathematics at the high school in Quasqueton, Iowa for two years before her marriage in 1933 to Philip Thornton of Sioux City. They were married in the Algona Methodist Church.
She gave birth to twins, Manly Philip and Melvin Chandler in 1935. The family moved to Storm Lake in 1937, where Ruth helped her husband in the clothing and shoe store Smart but Thrifty, altering clothes and clerking. In 1941 a daughter, Mary Ruth, was born.
Ruth loved nature. She went bird watching with her friend, Virginia Crocker; enjoyed trips to Martin Access to find wildflowers and was often asked by local conservation boards to guide students on nature hikes. Ruth was honored with the Judge Tobin Award by the Isaac Walton League.
Ruth and Phil became interested in archeology and participated in digs sponsored by the Cherokee County Museum. Ruth acted as secretary to the Iowa Archeological Society for 50 years and was honored with the Keyes Orr Archeological Award by the society.
Crosses were an important hobby of Ruth’s. She amassed a large collection and spent many hours researching the crosses given to her by family and friends. She displayed her crosses and shared her knowledge with groups in Storm Lake, northwest Iowa and as far away as Lincoln, Nebraska; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Madison, Wisconsin and Champaign, Illinois. Part of her cross collection is on loan to the Storm Lake United Methodist Church, displayed in cases built by her grandson, Todd Turner of Cedar Rapids.
Ruth was honored as Senior Volunteer of the year in 2004 by Community Education. She was nominated by the Cosmopolitan Club. Ruth was a member of the Storm Lake United Methodist Church, the Cosmopolitan Club, a member of the Order of Eastern Star, and A.A.U.W.
Ruth is survived by her children and their spouses: Manly and Peg Thornton, Elkhart IN; Melvin and Rosemary Thornton, Lincoln NE; and Mary Ruth Turner, Cedar Rapids, IA; grandchildren: Jeff and Karen Thornton, Croton NY; Patrick and Jacquie Turner, Las Vegas NV; Joel and Melissa Thornton, Dallas TX; Michael and Rebecca Thornton, Houston TX; Megan (Turner) and Steve Ginsberg, Cedar Rapids IA; Jay and Crystal Thornton, Seattle WA; Lynne (Thornton) and Haluk Sasmazer, Iowa City, IA; Jennifer (Thornton) and Charles Thornton-Kolbe, Denver CO; Todd and Carmen Turner, Cedar Rapids IA; and Chuck Thornton, Houston TX; twenty great-grandchildren; and her sister Lois Travis, Storm Lake, IA.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip; brothers, Richard and Bernard; and son-in-law, Larry Turner.
Funeral services for Mrs. Thornton will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake, with Reverend Jamie Cutler officiating. Burial will be in Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the services.
Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake, with the family present during that time.
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