Jean Paula (Whitcomb) Thornton died on October 29, 2010, following a lengthy battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.  Mrs. Thornton was born on March 1, 1930, to Wesley W. and Olive E. (Douglas) Whitcomb at the Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, VT.  She graduated from Chester (VT) High School (’48), Colby College in Waterville, ME, (’52) and Chandler Business School in Boston, MA, (’53).  Mrs. Thornton was an accomplished musician throughout her high school and college years and was a member of the Colby College Marching Band.  She served as a plane spotter during WWII watching from the roof of Chester High School.

 Mrs. Thornton believed her greatest accomplishment was raising her five daughters and four sons.  She reveled in her 23 grandchildren and one great grandchild.  She was an avid supporter of The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, The Order of DeMolay, Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Explorer Scouts and The Burlington International Games.  For more than a decade she was a fixture at Chittenden East School District events.  Mrs. Thornton enjoyed sharing stories of her children’s exploits whenever possible.  She was seldom seen without a knitting project and would give anyone a ride anywhere in her little yellow car.

 Mrs. Thornton was predeceased in 2008 by her husband of 55 years, Edwin L. Thornton, Jr.

 The family would like to thank the staff of Genesis Lebanon Center and Gifford Hospital for their many kindnesses.  No services will be held.  Donations may be made in Mrs. Thornton’s honor to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (info@pulmonaryfibrosis.org).