Raymond Melvin Thornton

Raymond Melvin Thornton, 77

Raymond died at his home in Frostproof Florida on December 15th 2008 due to cancer. He was born and raised in Frostproof, Florida. He was a member of the US Navy and a veteran of the Korean War. He was also a member of the VFW in Frostproof where he served as commander.

He is preceded in death by his parents Theodore and Edna Thornton both of Frostproof; brothers, Lloyd and Oran Thornton both of Frostproof; sister, Shirley Thornton of Frostproof, step-son, Jeffery Emery of Alton Illinois and grandson, Kevin James Waibel of Lake Wales. He is survived in death by his wife, Virginia Thornton of Frostproof; brothers, Frank Thornton of Frostproof and Carl Thornton of Lake Wales; daughters, April Yankwitt of Dover Delaware, Ava Maddox of Avon Park, Adrian Baker of Franklin Pennsylvania, Althea Henry of Winter Haven, Patricia Gonzales of Frostproof, Ramona Waibel of Lakeland; step-sons, Cary Lee Emery of Woodriver, Illinois and Dean Emery of Lake Wales; step-daughters, Loral Lamere of Hartford, Illinois and Debbie Powell of South Dakota. Raymond is also survived by 32 Grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Thursday, December 18, 2008 at the Corinth Baptist Church with viewing beginning at 1:00 PM. A reception will follow the service at the home of Raymond Thornton on Stanley Ave in Frostproof. For those who wish, the family requests donations be sent to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 8190, Lakeland, FL 33802.