Thornbury

John Burdett Thornbury, 88, of Slippery Rock went home to be with his Lord and Savior at 8:35 a.m. Wednesday.

He was a resident at Orchard Manor Nursing Home for the past 15 years.

He was born Aug. 26, 1922, in Clintonville, the son of James Thornbury and Esther Hoffman Thornbury.

John graduated from Clintonville High School. He was married to M. Jean Mahood Thornbury on Dec. 1, 1945. She passed away on March 10, 1989. They where married for 43 years. He then married Sandra A. Felix Thornbury. They have been married for 22 years. She survives.

He worked for various employers in the surface mining industry. He was a crane operator for Witherup Erection in the early 1970s. He also was a heavy equipment operator until his retirement in 1987. After retiring, he worked recycling metals to keep busy.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army and holding the rank of sergeant. He served in the Battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with five bronze stars. He was a member of the VFW Post 7465.

He was affiliated with the Forestville United Methodist Church of Forestville.

John liked to race cars in his younger years. He loved to read and spend time with his family and work in his garage. He also had his pilot's license.

He is survived by his four children with Jean, John B. Thornbury Jr. and his wife, Debby, of West Sunbury, Patrick D. Thornbury and his wife, Kathleen, of Slippery Rock, Tamara J. Montell and her husband, Lee, of Ohio and Veda A. Murray and her husband, Gary Whitman, of Montana; one son with Sandra, Andrew D. Thornbury of Slippery Rock; grandchildren, Wendy Hanna-Rose and her husband, Craig Rose, of State College, Roger Hanna and his wife, Sherry, of Florida, Rob Morris and his wife, Michelle, of Montana, Amy Bigley and her husband, Jay, of Montana, Erin Hartle and her husband, Clint, of West Sunbury, Abby Thornbury and her husband, Jesse Klingensmith, of Slippery Rock, and Brienne Michaels and her husband, Greg, of Florida; 12 great-grandchildren, Melissa and Luke Hanna, Oliver, Elliott and Poppy Rose, Zach Hewitt, Adam Bigley, Jake and Dylan Morris, Lucy and Gracie Hartle and Kyle Klingensmith; and one sister-in-law, Joyce Thornbury of Orchard Manor.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by one brother, Lewis; one sister, Betty; one nephew, Walter; and one niece, Diane.

<B>THORNBURY</B> — The family of John Burdett Thornbury, who died Wednesday, July 13, 2011, will receive friends at the <B>Larry E. McKinley Funeral Home</B>, 109 Emlenton St., Clintonville, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Forestville United Methodist Church, 124 Boyers Road, Forestville, with the Rev. Jack Patterson officiating. Interment will take place at the Clintonville Methodist Cemetery.The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Forestville United Methodist Church, in care of Barb Bovard, 124 Boyers Road, Forestville PA 16035.Friends also can e-mail condolences by visiting www.mckinleyfuneralhome.net.