St. George, Utah. Don Oliver Thornton 81 years, beloved husband, father, grandpa, brother and friend died at home July 17, 2007 following a brief illness. Don was born on May 2, 1926 to Oliver Willis and Artemesia Bennett Thornton in Delta, Utah. Don was reared in Delta, Springville and Provo, Utah. He graduated from High School in Provo Utah in 1943. He attended Brigham Young University. Don served his country in World War II in the Pacific Ocean as a radio operator in the United States Navy. Don loved his country and the service in the armed forces was a most prominent part of his youth. Shortly after his return from the Pacific Theater, he married Darling Lucille Johansen in Provo on September 14, 1947. He loved his career as a salesman then manager and ultimately district manager for SCOA Industries until his retirement. After this retirement he found great joy in working for the Department of Interior Mapping service in Salt Lake City. Don finally retired completely in 1992 and moved with Lucille to St. George Utah. Throughout his life Don was an incredible example of integrity, hard work, service to others anonymously, love of country, love of the flag that was a symbol of his country and pride in serving his country for the safety of others and protection of the freedoms he so cherished. Don passed from this life in the arms of his current and beloved wife Lois Perkins Thornton. They were married in December 07, 2004; ironically the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. Lois was the foundation and support that Don so loved over the past several years. She gave dad the desire to go on and to do all that he could do to remain active in his later years. Don and Lois loved to travel together by car across the county to visit friends and family from sea to shining sea. Their union has combined two rather large families into one extremely large family where numbers can no longer be defining. He is survived by his wife Lois Perkins Thornton, sisters Barbara (Dean) Webb, Joye (Jack) Walker, Magdalene (Leo) Dean, June (Ted) Gottfredson, Verle Chapman, Vern (Della) Thornton, and brother Gordon (Bonnie) Thornton, daughter Terri (Kent) Cragun, sons Alan (Jeanne) Thornton, Gary S. (Margot) Thornton, Jeff Thornton. Don is also survived by 17 grandchildren from his first marriage. He is survived by 41 grandchildren on the Lois Perkins Thornton side of the family. Don is survived by many great grand children. Don and Lois have three grandchildren serving as Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as one serving in the military as of Don's passing. He is preceded in death by his mother, father, brother Melvin, and his wife Lucille J. Thornton and one grandson.