Mary Thornton

Mary Matthews Thornton, 99 years of age, of Merritt Island, FL passed away on June 19, 2019. Mary was born February 4, 1920 in Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania, the daughter of J. Wilbert and Hazel Matthews. She was a 1937 graduate of Highland School in Street Maryland.

Her daughter “Connie” and husband Lawrence preceded her in death. She is survived by three sons, Larry, Jim, his wife Carolyn, Roy, his wife Carole and eight grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

Mary worked at Edgewood Arsenal providing logistic services to General Eisenhouser and General Patton before moving to Florida in 1960 and joining NASA. She became a Documentation Management Specialist for NASA and worked directly with the original “7” astronauts. She was awarded the “Silver Snoopy” award by the Apollo Astronauts in 1972. She retired as a Supervisor in the Design Engineering Directorate culminating 35 years of NASA service at the Kennedy Space Center.

There will be a visitation on Sunday, June 23, 2019 from 10 to 11 AM followed by services at 11 AM at The Life Event Center at Florida Memorial, 5950 South US Highway 1, Rockledge, FL. Interment will be in Florida Memorial Gardens.