Jack Thornton

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Jack (Jackie) M. Thornton, 76, of Waco, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Saturday, July 21, 2007 after a battle with cancer.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2007, at the Columbus Avenue Baptist Church with Dr. Ron Durham officiating, assisted by Dr. Glenn O. Hilburn, Emeritus Professor of Religion at Baylor University.

Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park.

The visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 23, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque. A memorial video honoring his life will be shown during the visitation.

Jack was born in Troy, on Sept. 23, 1930 to L.L. and Alma Mae (McMullen) Thornton. He graduated from Temple High School in 1948. He married Irene McClain on June 18, 1950 in Temple. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War 1951 ? 1955.

He was active in the community at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, Waco Founders Lions Club, Waco Jaycees, Lake Air Little League Baseball and Lake Air Pee Wee Football, and Providence Hospital Volunteer Organization.

One of the joys of his life was Baylor University. Jack had two careers at Baylor: 20 years as Director of Data Processing (Information Technology) and 21 years as the University Host. He came to Baylor in 1957 during the days of the old punch-card computer system.

After he organized a national conference at the Waco Convention Center, then-Baylor President Herbert H. Reynolds asked him to become the full-time conference coordinator for Baylor. Reynolds gave him the new title of University Host and Director of the Wiethorn Visitors Center, with the responsibilities of working with conference visitors, summer programs on campus, helping entertain the spouses of trustees during board meetings, and housing visiting dignitaries and professors from universities around the world. He retired from Baylor in May 1998.

Jack worked at the executive level of two national organizations related to his work at Baylor. The first was CUMREC (College & University Machine Records Conference), and then ACCED-I (Association of Collegiate Cultural Events Directors International.)

Jack continued to serve others during his retirement, his final job being a greeter and funeral assistant at OakCrest Funeral Home.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Rev. Freeland (Dugan) Thornton.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Irene; daughters, Pamela Thomas and husband, Daniel of Bowie, Maryland, Tina Balega and husband Peter of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and Susie Vickery and husband Alan of Argyle, TX. and son, Larry Thornton of Waco. He is also survived by two sisters, Bessie Melton and Clarice Estelle Kime, both of Houston. He leaves nine grandchildren, Nora Thomas, Kimberly Balega, Christy Balega, Jaclyn Balega, Corey Thornton, Adam Thornton, Julia Vickery, Patrick Vickery and Jack Vickery.

Pallbearers will be Mickey Melton, Ronnie Melton, Ed Jennings, Michael Thornton, Robert Black, Scott Cole, Vaughn McClain, Don Ott, Brian White, Jerry Jackson, Tim Jackson and Kelly Jackson.

Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren and the members of the Frank Wilson Sunday School Class at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jack Thornton Baylor University Scholarship, One Bear Place, Waco, Texas 76718 or Bluebonnet Hospice, 307 Londonderry, Waco, Texas 76712.