Patsy Ruth Thornton

Patsy Ruth Bush Thornton The daughter of Mary and Carl Phillips was born on June 28,1930. In Wheeling West Virginia, she was the second child and the first daughter of the family. On September 23, 2023, Patsy left this world, but Patsy has been slipping from us for a long, long time, Starting, with the symptoms of age-related dementia then growing to Alzheimer’s during the loneliness of covid isolation. Most of Patsy’s childhood was spent in West Virginia. When Patsy was about 10 years old, they moved to Weston, West Virgina where she attended public school and graduated from Weston High School. She sang in the chorus and played French horn in the band. After graduation she married her high school sweetheart, James William “Bill” Bush. They had two children, Mary Lynn, and James William II. In 1961 Patsy and Bill moved their family to Jacksonville, Florida, where his mother and her sister lived. Bill had been working in the family business, Dancers Hardware, and Supply Company in the warehouse. Opportunities for advancement were few and far between. Patsy worked part-time during the summers and took good care of the family. The move to Florida was not easy. Patsy did not drive. She did find and became a member of Murry Hill United Methodius Church and was an active member there till 2017. With the start of school for the children, new friends, and Bill being able to find a decent job, she settled into the rhythm of her life as wife, mother, and housekeeper for us all. She and her two children never missed Sunday service or Sunday school. Bill fell very ill and died in 1971. With both children gone, Grandmother and Susie working Patsy decided to learn to drive and get herself a job. So, she took herself over to the then Lee Highschool and enrolled in driver’s education classes. This was an interesting challenge. Patsy being only 4’9” and maybe 100 pounds, not only was she the oldest but the smallest student in class. She did persevere and got her driver’s license. She purchased a mustang from one of the neighbors and soon started to work as the printer for Riverside Hospital. She was employed there till the hospital was sold and torn down. She, retired, married Billy Thornton and they traveled all over the U.S. with her best friend, Billy’s sister, Ann McQuigg, her husband, and the camping club. Life was good and they were very happy. She supported us all with her presents at all our events. You could not have asked for a better Mom or Nana. She had a great sense of hummer, and the door was always open for a game of cards or just to eat popcorn and talk. She lived a good full life and touched a lot of lives. She has been missed. She leaves behind to remember her, her children, Mary Lynn Dill-Maxey (Don), and James William Bush II (Lee), and Billy’s children, Anita Smith(Anthony), Audry Jones. Grand Children, Rachael Bush, and Sam Gooding. Grate grandchildren Robby and Ryan McClain and 6 great, great grandchildren. Her sister Jane Hamlin (Steve), sister-in-law Pat Phillips. Many Nieces and Nephews, and so many more friends that were so comforting to her. The family requests in lieu of flowers please make your donations to ProMedica Hospice Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the Thornton family.