Gladys Marie “Gladdy” Thornton, 64, died suddenly at Whidbey General Hospital Jan. 13, 2005. She was born Oct. 17, 1940, in Oak Park, Ill., to Louis and Anne (Slessinger) Barnett.
Gladys was raised in Chicago. She attended St. Sylvester Catholic School for her elementary education. She moved with her family to Round Lake, Ill., and graduated from Round Lake High School in 1958 and then attended the University of Illinois for one year.
Gladys left the university to begin a career with federal civil service. She was hired to work in the finance office at Fort Sheridan in Waukegan, Ill. Her job required her to provide audit services at surrounding installations and she traveled to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Glenview, Ill. During an audit at that facility, Gladys met Ralph E. Thornton, a young Navy man. She and Ralph were married in Round Lake, Ill., Oct. 4, 1969.
In 1970, Ralph was transferred to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Gladys left civil service and became a stay-at-home mom, raising son Michael. When Michael was old enough to start school, Gladys returned to work as a disbursing officer aboard NAS Whidbey Island. In 1993, she retired from NAS Whidbey with 30 years of federal service.
Gladys was an avid QVC shopping network member. She enjoyed puzzle books and collectibles, especially Hummels. Much of her shopping was a love for others. For years, she purchased large numbers of blankets for the Red Door of Anacortes and toys for Children’s Hospital and needed items for Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC). She had a wonderful, generous heart and also delighted in making her famous fudge for others. Most of all, she loved her family and adored her grandchildren. She was a soccer wife and mom, following Ralph and Michael as they coached soccer.
Gladys is survived by her husband Ralph at the family home, by one son Michael Thornton and wife Jessica and by two grandchildren, Michael and Jordyn Thornton, and one brother Bob Barnett and wife Jody, all of Oak Harbor. Two nieces, Cathy Fakkema and husband Dick of Oak Harbor and Kim Dorn and husband Brian of Salem, Wis., and two nephews, Blane Barnett of Illinois and Steven Barnett of Bellingham, and eight grand-nieces and grand-nephews also survive.
Memorial services for Gladys Thornton will be held Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m., at Burley Funeral Chapel with Rev. Dave Veach of Living Word Fellowship officiating. Inurnment will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.
