Obituary of Lt. Colonel Joyce A. Thornton

Lt. Colonel Joyce A. Thornton, Allendale, 84 yrs., of Allendale, died 19 July 1998, at her home following a brief illness.  She was born 11 March 1914 in Edwardsburg, MI, a daughter of Louis and Mary Catharine (Garwood) Thornton.  Her education included courses of study at New York Hospital, the University of Pittsburgh, the Incarnate Word College.  She served as a WAC nurse in the U. S. Army from 1941 until retirement in 1965.  Military hospital assignments included Chanute Field, Rantoul, ILL?; Canal Zone, Panama; DeWitt Hospital, Auburn, California; Luzon, Philippines; Percy Jones Hospital and Fort Custer, Battle Creek; Army-Navy Hospital, Hot Springs, Ark; 97th General Hospital, Frankfort, Germany; U.S. Army Hospital, Bremerhaven, Germany; Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C.; U.S. Army Hospital, Fort Gordon, GA; and 2nd Field Hospital, Munich, Germany.  In recent years, she was active in politics, in Helping Hands for Senior Citizens, nursing administration at nursing homes, relief instructor for nurses aid classes under Federal Management.  Surviving are one sister-in-law, Margaret Thornton at Constantine; three nephews and their spouses, Jack and Sheila Thornton of Allendale, Tom and Carol Thornton of Otsego, and Dwight and Cathy Jones of South Bend, Ind.; one niece and her spouse, Joyce and Tony Witek of Constantine; several great-nieces and nephews; and special friends, Dick and Sally Ellis of Edwardsburg.  She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Duane Thornton and two sisters, Eleanor Jones and Ruth Thornton.  There will be no visitation.  Cremation has taken place.  A memorial service is at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Eley Funeral Home of Constantine.  The Rev. Dr. Michael T. Conklin of Coopersville Methodist Church will officiate.  Burial of cremains will be in the Edwardsburg Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to Hospice or the American Cancer Society.