Jesse F. Thornton

Thornton, Jesse F.

Age 59, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2007 at the Alterra Sterling House of Beavercreek. He was born on March 29, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph Earl and Jessie Martha (White) Thornton. Jesse graduated from Christian Fenger High School in Chicago, Illinois and attended the University of Wisconsin. He worked for International Harvester (Navistar) in both Illinois and Ohio. Jesse also operated his own printing company, Thornton & Son, in Chicago. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America program his entire life, and for the past 10 years served as Troop Committee Chairman and Crew Advisor for Saint Andrew United Methodist Church's Boy Scout Troop/Crew 56 in Beavercreek, Ohio. Jesse is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marie Antoinette (Continio) Thornton, as well as his beloved parents, Joseph E. and Jessie M. Thornton. He is survived by one son, Joseph Anthony Thornton (Rachael Zerran) and three granddaughters: Ruth Annmarie, Ryyan Zerran, and Sarah Ann, all of Huber Heights, Ohio. Jesse is also survived by his Aunt Frances and Uncle King Stutzman, his cousins Peter and Timothy (Martha) Stutzman, all of Wilmette, Illinois. He will be sorely missed by his extended Scouting family, consisting of the members of Boy Scout Troop/Crew 56 and Tecumseh Council. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior at Newcomer Funeral Home, Beavercreek Chapel, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek, Ohio. A "Celebration of Life" reception will follow the funeral service at Saint Andrew United Methodist Church, 350 North Fairfield Road, Beavercreek, Ohio 45434, at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jesse's name may be made to Boy Scouts of America, Tecumseh Council, 326 South Thompson Avenue, Springfield, Ohio 45506. Funeral services will also be held at Spencer Family Funeral Home, 310 South Capitol, Athens, Michigan (www.spencerfamilyfuneralhome.com), with burial to follow at Sherwood Cemetery, Sherwood Township, Michigan.