Verne F. Thornton

Verne F. Thornton, 85, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully at home with his family on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 13, at Asbury Methodist Church. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery.

A native Kansan, Verne was born on Aug. 14, 1926, in Iola, but he lived most of his life in Wichita. Like so many other youngsters following the Great Depression, he left school at age 13 in order to go to work. At age 17, he joined the Navy and served honorably at Okinawa during World War II as a member of the Amphibious Forces.

At the end of the war, he returned home to Wichita, where he took a job as an electrician. Eventually, he started his own highly successful electric company, Thornton Electric, which employed 135 people and did much of the electrical and lighting work for the City of Wichita. After taking early retirement, he began Thornton Woodworking.

A lifelong member of the Midian Shrine Temple, he served as Potentate in 1983, and he was also a member of the Jesters and the Motor Patrol. He contributed to the Shriners Hospitals for Children and many other charities throughout his life.

In addition, he served on the board of the Wichita Crime Commission, the board of Cowtown, and numerous other boards over the years. He was a member of the Asbury Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Eileen Thornton of Wichita; an infant daughter; and his daughter, Beverly Lynn Thornton Dandurand of Wichita.

He is survived by his second wife, Beverly S. Thornton of Wichita; son, Robert (Kim) V. Thornton of Wichita; stepson, Thomas (Zeny) Stovey of Houston, Texas; stepdaughters, Rebecca (John Cox) Brandewyne and Lisa Wadsworth, both of Wichita; sister, Delores (William) Page of Derby; six grandchildren; more than a dozen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with the Plane of Mercy at the Midian Shrine Temple, and with the Asbury Methodist Church. Condolences may be offered at www.resthavenmortuary-cemetery.com.