January 13, 1920 –  September 13, 2015 Thornton,
Shelby Eugene Thornton age 95 of Grapevine, passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2015 at Dancing River Assisted Living in Grapevine. He was born on January 13, 1920 in Itawamba County Mississippi to James Lafayette and Sara Angie Senter Thornton. He married Vera “Viola” VanHoozer on November 27, 1941 in Wolfe City and she preceded him in death in 2011.

Mr. Thornton was a member of First Baptist Church of Irving. He was the owner and operator of several Exxon service stations in the Irving area for many years. Shelby enjoyed dancing, he and his wife traveled the area going to seniors dances for many years. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his daughter Judy Hawkins of Grapevine, two granddaughters Kristie Ballew and husband Vance of Springdale, Arkansas, Donna Ray and Rich of Palm Beach, Florida, two great-granddaughters Whitney Phillips Martin and husband Zak and Shelby Henson.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 18, 2015 at R.W. Owens & Son Funeral Home in Wolfe City, Texas from 6:00 till 8:00 P.M.

Funeral services will be Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home with Envoy Hospice Chaplin Mike Shreve officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Wolfe City with Kenneth Thornton, Joel Thornton, Bobby Max Thornton, Jerry Don Thornton, Zak Martin and Mike Turner serving as pallbearers.

The family would like to thank the staff of Dancing River Assisted Living and Envoy Hospice for the excellent care of Shelby.

Donations may be made in honor of Mr. Thornton to the Mt. Carmel Cemetery Association at P.O. Box 95 Wolfe City, Texas 75496