Roy Neal Thornton

Roy Neal Thornton was born February 25, 1919, in Warren County, KY, to Jesse Benton and Susie Cooper Thornton. In 1939 he married Helen Louise Freas; they had four children: Sandra Neal (1941), Anthony Wilson (1945), Donna Louise (1948), and Terry Leslie (1950). Roy died November 2, 1994, in Warren County, KY.























Roy on the farm, which was located in the southeastern section of Warren County, near Boyce, KY.






















Donna and Tony proudly display their catch...























Aunt Helen, her sister-in-law, Aunt Juanita, and Sandra.

Jesse Benton Thornton and Cast...

With all the Thornton family reunions, Papa Thornton (Jesse Benton) was forever being posed alongside of his many children, in-laws, and grandchildren.

Here, we have him with his daughters: Eva, Ruby, Pauline, Nora Clay, and Carene. Aunt Fannie was not present.























And, here, with his sons: Jess, Bob, Porter, and Roy...















The daughters-in law: Juanita, Edna, Helen, and Patricia...























And, finally, with Granny and "Old Granny" Hobby.

Woodburn High School

The Woodburn area of southern Warren County and northern Simpson County, KY, was home to four generations of Thorntons, several of whom attended the local high school...

In this 1934 freshman class photo, we see my great-uncle, Roy Neal Thornton, and his future bride, Helen Freas. Can you spot Uncle Roy and Aunt Helen?

























Woodburn had a solid reputation in sports, sending several scholarship players to various state colleges. Both my grandfather, Jesse Willard (2nd from left, bottom row), and my great-uncle, Roy Neal (2nd from right, bottom row), received such recognition, before war and marriage intervened...