Marilyn G. Thornton

Marilyn G. Thornton entered into rest at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2008, at her home in Monmouth, Ill. She was born Jan. 30, 1928, in Roseville, Ill. to the late Doren and Dorothy Ditch Hixson. She was the devoted wife of Lionel A. Thornton since June 4, 1949 until his recent death. She is survived by her beloved children, two sons, Charles (Robin) and Chris, both of Conn.; two daughters, Kathryn Withenbury (Thomas) of Monmouth, and Karen Boroski (Robert) of Conn.; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents and her beloved nine-year-old daughter, Kimberly, who succumbed to cancer in 1975. She was raised and educated in Roseville and Monmouth, graduating from Monmouth High School in 1946. She also graduated from Brown Business College and attended the University of Iowa. In 1955 she and her husband moved to Connecticut where they raised their family along with caring for 25 foster infants. She was a medical secretary for Drs. Dolan, Berger, and Feirstein in Huntington, Conn. until 1979 when she relocated to Greenville, S.C. with her husband. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, needlepoint, knitting, and crocheting. In 1986 she and her husband retired to their hometown of Monmouth and wintered in Florida. Services:Friends may call on Tuesday, February 19 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Ill. where her family plans to receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00. A graveside service will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the memory of Kimberly Thornton