Donald Thornton

Donald W. Thornton, 75, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Friday, December 18, 2009, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 21, 2009, beginning after 1:00 p.m., at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. that evening. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, with The Rev. Richard Latta officiating. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials have been established to Future Farmers of America and the American Heart Association. The son of Ralph E. and Marie D. Klesner Thornton, Donald Wilbur was born June 10, 1934, in Burlington, IA. He was a 1952 graduate of New London High School. On September 25, 1954, Don married Beatrice L. Smithhart at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. She preceded him in death in June of 1995. From 1956 until 1962, Don served in the United States Army. Following his discharge, Don raised cattle and grew grain on the family farm north of Mt. Pleasant. A longtime farmer, he served on the Henry County Co-op Board for several years and was named Henry County Cattleman of the Year in 1999. Being of the Christian faith, Don loved spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed playing card games such as Pitch and 31, was an avid Hawkeye fan, and liked to watch pro wrestling and westerns on television. Mr. Thornton is survived by two daughters, Deb Blevins and her fianc Kerry Miller of New London, IA, and Dawn (Mike) Longwell of Ely, IA; one brother, Larry (Jo) Thornton of Mt. Pleasant, IA; two sisters, Joanne Mallams of Mt. Pleasant, IA, and Jeanette Luithly of Columbus Junction, IA; and special friend, Shirley Dutton of Mt. Pleasant, IA. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Amy, Thomas, and Lindsey Leitch, Cory and Jamie Stanley, Kelse Truitt, Dustin Howell, and Aaron and Adam Longwell, along with four great-grandchildren, Ellery Stanley, Madelynn Millard, and Ashlyn and Makayla McGinnis. Along with his wife and parents, Don was preceded in death by two daughters, Terry Thornton and Teresa Harvey.