Dana S. Thornton of Chester

Dana S. Thornton, 78, of Chester, passed away at 8:14 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019 at Memorial Hospital in Chester.

She was born to the late Jack and Beatrice (nee Hopkins) Huffman on Oct. 8, 1940 in Cairo, Illinois.

Dana married Curtis Wayne Thornton on March 30, 1961 in Chester, and he survives.

Dana was a second grade teacher from 1975-1984 and then was principal of Chester Grade School from 1984-1992.

She was a member of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church. She was also a member of Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality, the Chester Women's Club, Chester Hospital Auxiliary and the Illinois Retired Teachers Association.

Dana was a lifetime member of Friends of the Chester Library, the SIU Alumni Association and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

She is survived by her husband, Curtis Thornton of Chester; son, Timothy (Jennifer) Thornton of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and three grandchildren, Ashley, Tyler and Matthew.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 at St. Mary Church of Divine Maternity in Ellis Grove, with the Very Reverend Eugene H. Wojcik, V.F., officiating. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Chester.

Visitation will be held prior to the service, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Mary Church of Divine Maternity, Ellis Grove.

The family requests memorials to St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, the Chester Public Library or to the donor's choice.

To view this obituary and sign the register book visit www.wpfh.net.