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Fred H. Thornton
SIKESTON — Dr. Fred Howell Thornton passed away May 26, 2024, at the age of 86.
Fred Howell Thornton was born July 29, 1937, to Fred and Hazel Thornton in Piggott, Arkansas. He was predeceased by Fred and Hazel Thornton and sisters, Janice Rice Haas and Helen Christianson Hilton.
At the age of 8, he moved to Chaffee, Missouri. He graduated from Chaffee High School in 1955 and enrolled at Central Methodist College. While there, he found a love of science. He graduated cum laude with a BA degree in chemistry. He was also President of his class and Panhellenic Council. He enrolled at Northwestern University for his medical studies, where he received his M.D. degree in 1963. While there, he met the love of his life, Lynn Ann Christopherson, and they married in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 25, 1961. While at Northwestern he worked two summers with Dr. Tom Starzyl on chemical research that ultimately led to successful liver transplantation. Fred had two papers published in the American Journal of Surgery at that time. A surgical internship and four years of residency followed. He served as chief resident and later as an instructor at Northwestern, 1967-68. He served with the U.S. Medical Corps in 1968-70 which included a yearlong tour of duty in Vietnam. He received an honorable discharge at the rank of Major. He felt that the time spent overseas was a valuable learning experience.
In 1970, he and his wife and four children moved to Sikeston, where he joined Ferguson Medical Group. He worked as a general surgeon, operating at Missouri Delta Community Hospital for over 40 years. He was happy there and impressed by the high caliber of physicians and staff working there.
He served on the Airport Advisory Board from 1977-1982. He loved flying. He also served 13 years on the Sikeston School Board. He always had to be busy and needed little rest. He had so many hobbies; one was woodworking. He had a workshop in his basement and two kilns to dry his wood. He made TV trays for all his relatives, tons of clocks and four cedar chests for his children. He also built two sailboats; one early in life for his children to use at Kentucky Lake and a later one for his grandchildren in Alabama. He also liked to garden and built a “growing station” for plants to start in the winter. He also built a “dark room” for developing film. With all that, he had time for his family. He went to all of his children’s activities. He loved to golf and fish but didn’t start these hobbies until his children were grown. In later years, he and his wife traveled the world. He had a very close extended family and especially enjoyed the many family reunions and time together. He also served as an Elder at Hunter Memorial Presbyterian church where he was a member for over 50 years.
According to his wife, the one thing that defined him was that he loved people.
He is survived by his wife; his four children, Jennifer Hickam (Bill), Drs. Heather Estopinal (Temple), Fred/Chip Thornton, Esq. (Nan) and Drs. Christopher Thornton (Shilpa); and nine grandchildren, Tyler Estopinal (Anne Carol), Alexander Estopinal (Allison), Mary Morgan Estopinal, Matthew Estopinal, Fred/Cole Howell Thornton IV, Sarah Thornton, Ryan Thornton, Kyle Thornton and Gabriella Thornton.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 5, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Sikeston with the Rev. Karen Dumey officiating.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Thornton family may be shared at www.nunneleefuneralchapel.com.
Memorial donations may be sent to:
Missouri Delta Medical Center Foundation
1008 North Main St.
Sikeston, MO 63801
or Central Methodist University
411 Central Methodist Square
Fayette, MO 65248-1198