Wanda Nell (Williams) Thornton

Former Grants Pass resident, Wanda Nell (Williams) Thornton, age 84, of Medford, died Thursday, October 13, 2011 in Medford.

No services are planned. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

The family wishes Wanda to be remembered through contributions to Providence Hospice, 111 Crater Lake Avenue, Medford, Oregon 97504.

Wanda was born October 28, 1926 in Sugar Grove, Arkansas to William & Ruby Williams. Most of her childhood was spent in Keota, Oklahoma. At age 16, she traveled with her family on the back of a flat bed truck from Oklahoma to California to work the fruit orchards in Visalia. She met Robert Thornton, just returned from World War II Pacific front, and they married in November 1947. She was a full-time wife and mother living in Fremont, California. In 1970 she retired to Central Point and in 1984 moved to Grants Pass.

Wanda loved gardening and cooking holiday dinners.

She is survived by her loving children, Theresa Robinson (Michael) of Ohio, Pamela Reeser (Gary) of Medford, Oregon, Robert Lynn Thornton (Julie) of California and Donna Johnson (Roger) of Oakland, Oregon; eight grandchildren, Teralee, Lea, Todd, Robyn, Jeffrey, Travis, Derek and Simon; seven great-grandchildren, with another due in February; three brothers, Joseph of California, Alvin of Texas, and Julius Cozzatti of California.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Robert Ralph Thornton; her parents; and two brothers, Buren and Doyle.