Welcome to our Thornton family

In this blog we attempt to create a visual history of a main southern Kentucky Thornton branch, descended from Scots-Irish Thorntons who may have arrived in Pennsylvania in the mid-1700s. If your goal is to check whether or not you or a family member are listed in our genealogy file, the first eight posts contain more than 1,500 names, listed generationally. Use the 'find' command to scroll through the material...Good luck.

Also, if you have photos, corrections, or inquiries, please feel free to contact us at thorntonsoky@gmail.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Class-book Photo: The Hensons

Jesse Willard Henson's children: In the third row, left to right, Larry, Ophelia, Jerry Galen, and Terry.  The first picture in the fourth row is Katherine


Jesse Willard Henson (1917 - 1981)

Jesse Willard Henson was born July 16, 1917 in Simpson County, KY, to Lee B. and Ophelia Ruth Wright Henson.  Ophelia was the daughter of Charlie Wilson and Lassie Wright, daughter of Cassandra Thornton of the Allen and Polly Ray Thornton branch.  In 1925, Ophelia Henson passed away, when Jesse was eight years old and his younger sister, Eris, was three.  Raised in Simpson County, he married Mary Sue Spears, daughter of Denver and Nellie Middleton Spears, and raised his family on the rolling farmland of southern Kentucky.  Jesse and his wife had several children: Jerry Galen, Larry Willard, Ophelia, Terry Marlin, and Katherine.  Jesse passed away in February 1981, in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
In the above picture, Jesse is with his father, Lee Henson.
The Henson family:  Top row, left to right, William Ranburger, Mary Sue Spears Henson, Jesse Willard Henson, Diane McCoy Henson, Terry Marlin Henson, Larry Willard Henson; Second row, left to right, Katherine Henson Toney, Ophelia Ranburger, with Teresa Dyer in lap, Lee Henson, Jane Lightfoot Henson, with Bonnie Henson Monroe in lap, Lorie Fisher Henson, and Sherry Henson Edmunds.
Ophelia, daughter of Jesse Willard, poses with Xavier Henson-Stevens, son of Stefanie Henson-Stevens and Timothy Stevens.
40th Wedding Anniversary: Larry, Ophelia, Willard, Sue, Terry, and Katherine

Fall Family Member Obituaries


Bradley Thomas Threlkel:

Mr. Bradley Thomas Threlkel, 21, of Woodburn, died Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at his residence.

He was a native of Simpson County. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Merile B. O’Bryan; and an aunt, Sue Threlkel.  

Survivors include his father, Henry Thomas Threlkel and his companion, Lisa Rue, of Franklin; his mother, Fern O’Bryan Mercer and her husband, Joe, of Woodburn; a brother, Zackary Threlkel of Franklin; paternal grandparents, Henry B. and Lois Threlkel of Morgantown; maternal grandmother, Dorothy O’Bryan of Franklin; a nephew, Zayden Bryan Threlkel of Franklin; aunts and uncles, Janice Morgan of Indianapolis, Ron and Barbara Threlkel of Plano, Betty and Jimmy Vance of Franklin, James and Anita Minton of Morgantown, Merile and Carol O’Bryan of Franklin, Roy and Barbara O’Bryan of Franklin and Leo O’Bryan of Nashville; and five cousins. 

Cloyd Copas:

Cloyd Copas, 84, of Bowling Green, died Wednesday afternoon at his residence.

Survivors include his wife Carene of 66 years; and two sons, Allan and Rodney (Debbie) and their families.

Glenn Daniel:

Glenn Daniel, 74, of Bowling Green, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday at the VA Hospital in Nashville.

The Warren County native was born March 30, 1938, and was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Eva Thornton Daniel; two sons, Brad and Brent Daniel; his brother, Gary Daniel; and two brothers-in-law, Louie White and Eugene Rippy.

Glenn was a member of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church, a 1956 graduate of Alvaton High School, a U. S. Army veteran and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was member of American Legion Post 23 and a former post commander. He was a van driver for disabled veterans, loved hunting and fishing and never met a stranger. He loved his wife, children, sisters and especially his grandchildren.

Glenn is survived by his wife, JoAnna Daniel; a son, Chris Daniel (Vicki) of Bowling Green; a daughter, Kim Bouchey (David) of Bowling Green; three stepsons, Doug Cline (Cathy) of Glasgow, and Chris Cline (Mary) and Adam Cline, both of Bowling Green; a stepdaughter, Nicki Cline of Bowling Green; two sisters, Evelyn White and Lucille Rippy, both of Bowling Green; a sister-in-law, Jeannie Reneau (Jimmy) of Bowling Green; three grandchildren, Jana Sublett, Jonathan Daniel and Bradley Bouchey; four stepgrandchildren, Randy and Andy Cline, Ashley Grisham and Charles Simmons; a special mother-in-law, Ocie Sexton of Edmonton; and several nieces and nephews.

(Bowling Green Park City Daily News, 2012)