MEADE – Willard E. (Bill) Thornton, age 92, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 17, 2017, at the Meade District Hospital, Meade, Kansas.

He was born February 5, 1925, at Coulterville, Illinois, the son of Bert and Francis (Ben) Thornton.   As a young boy he attended the Coulterville schools, graduating from Coulterville High School. Upon his graduation, he joined the United States Army, serving during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operation as part of the occupational force in the Philippines and Japan. After his discharge from the Army, he joined the United States Air Force, serving for thirty years as a computer programmer and was part of the development of the bar code system.

He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene and attended the Beam Senior Center. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

On February 16, 1952, he married Eunice Ethel Pinson, at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. She precedes him in death on February 26, 2017.

He is survived by a daughter, Shawna Karl and husband Dennis of Las Vegas, Nevada; a son, Shawn Thornton and wife Tanja of Meade; grandsons Anthony Duncan and wife Donabelle of Las Vegas, Nevada, Christopher Duncan of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Cody Thornton and wife Kelly of Meade; a granddaughter, Brandi Parizek and husband Richard of Shawnee, Kansas; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Eunice; parents; six brothers Forest, Alfred, Marshal, Jim, Len, and Roger; and two sisters Elva and Marge.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 20, 2017, at the Church of the Nazarene, Meade. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday with the family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade. Interment will follow the services in the Graceland Cemetery.

The family would welcome memorials the church of their choice in care of the funeral home.