Major James Henry Usaf Retired Thornton

Major James Henry Thornton (USAF Retired)




Major James Henry Thornton (United States Air Force Retired) of Millstadt, Illinois passed away on Friday, April 29, 2016 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri having attained the age of 83 years, 6 months and 15 days.
Born on October 14, 1932 on a farm in the hills near Elgin, Iowa (Northeast Iowa 'Little Switzerland'), he was the son of Wilbur and Helen Thornton, nee Peyer, the eldest of eight children.
He attended various country grade schools as the family moved about in rural Iowa and graduated from Clermont High School in 1950. He worked for about two years on a dairy farm, trout farm and St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. He joined the United States Air Force in 1952 during the Korean War and was selected for pilot training in the Cadet Program. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in July of 1954.
Mr. Thornton met his future wife, Mary Ellen Breault, through his sister, Dawn, while on leave in the fall of 1955. They were united in marriage on November 10, 1956 at St. Catherine of Genoa Church in Chicago, Illinois.
He was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, Illinois since 1968, the Millstadt Commercial Club, the Over 50 Club of St. James Catholic Church, 3 Poker Clubs and the Community Center Euchre Club.
He flew T28, T33, B25 and T29 in the Air Training Command where he soon became an instructor pilot. He flew the KC97 tanker as an Aircraft Commander on a combat crew in the Strategic Air Command for six years, then the C130 in the Military Air Transport Command and the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery. He subsequently flew both KC97 and C130 as a Standardization Pilot at Scott Air Force Base.
His service in the Strategic Air Command was most important to him personally. He had a strong personal sense of responsibility at SAC's mission to protect America during the crucial time in the Cold War before the missile defense shield was ready.
He retired as a Major in August of 1972 after 16 years as an Instructor Pilot, 15 years as an Aircraft Commander, 4 years in the Standardization Department at Scott Air Force Base, 20 years of service and 7200 flying hours.
He was stationed at Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas, Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Orlando Air Force Base, Florida and Scott Air Force Base, Illinois and many training and temporary duty assignments.
He loved to fly and he loved the challenge of mastering the mechanics, skills and the intellectual and physical demands of flying various airplanes. The bonds with his flying colleagues especially those of the 307th Air Refueling Squadron in Strategic Air Command were strong and lasting. He attended reunions faithfully and kept deep friendships although separated by hundreds of miles.
After retirement, he earned an Associate's Degree at Belleville Area College in air conditioning and refrigeration. He also worked for Manning Real Estate and for St. James Catholic Church.

He could fix almost anything. He completely remodeled a house and with the help of daughters, sons, sons in law and grandsons built four houses and a large shed. He loved children and they loved him. He particularly enjoyed baby sitting for his grandchildren. He even took charge of tiny little premature Isaac when he was released from the hospital, oxygen, monitors and all.
He flew the KC97 again in the 1990's for Dr. Terry Elder in charitable missions to Central America and Mexico and in Alaska where the airplane carried commercial fish for the benefit of Dr. Elder's charity.
He loved to play cards of any kind, had an innate card sense and an unusual understanding of winning strategies and odds.
He was strong and faithful in his Catholic faith and in his relationships with his parents, siblings and in laws. He was a kind, loving, generous and protective husband and father who was greatly loved and respected by his family. In later years he developed a strong devotion to the Divine Mercy devotion and prayed the Chaplet daily.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his daughter, Catherine Lester, a twin; his brother, Eugene Thornton; his sister, Beverly James; his grandchildren, Sarah Lester and Michael Lester, in infancy.
Surviving are his wife, Mary Thornton of Millstadt, Illinois; his children, David Thornton, a twin, of Freeburg, Illinois, Michael Edward Thornton of Ellis Grove, Illinois, Barbara Jeanne Thornton of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sue Ellen (Roger) Moritz of Hillsboro, Missouri and Margaret Ruth 'Peg' (Steve) Knotts of Freeburg, Illinois; son in law, James Lester of Millstadt, Illinois; his grandchildren, Nicholas (Tanya) Lester, Catherine 'Katie' Lester, both of Seward, Arkansas, Carolyn (Erwin) Fraterman of Los Angeles, California, Angel Zamarron of Ellis Grove, Illinois, Carlos Zamarron of Belleville, Illinois, Rebecca Zamarron of Freeburg, Illinois, Isaac Zamarron of Shiloh, Illinois, Benjamin Zamarron of Belleville, Illinois and Kateland Thornton of Ellis Grove, Illinois; his great grandchildren, C. Michael Zamarron of Fairview Heights, Illinois, Emma Lester and Grace Lester of Seward, Arkansas and Hannah Zamarron; nieces, nephews and many friends.
Memorials may be made in the form of masses or to St. James Catholic Church and will be received at the funeral home.
Friends may call on Monday, May 2, 2016 from 4:00 P.M.. to 7:00 P.M. at the Creason Funeral Home in Millstadt, Illinois and on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 from 9:00 to 9:30 A.M. at St. James Catholic Church. The reading the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy will be at 4:00 P.M.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 9:30 A.M. at St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, Illinois with Monsignor Marvin Volk officiating. Interment will follow in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.