Obituary of Howard A. Thornton

PORTLAND - Howard A. Thornton, age 84, of Portland, NY, passed away Saturday, September 21, 2019, at St. Vincent Hospital in Erie, PA following a brief illness.

   Howard was born on August 25, 1935, in Hermon, New York, the son of the late Stanley and Elma (Warner) Thornton. He was a graduate of Hermon Central School and moved to the Brocton / Portland area in 1956 to work on the NYS Thruway project. He had been a member of the Laborers Union for many years. He enjoyed carpentry, woodworking, plumbing and most anything mechanical. He was well known in the area as the Lawn Mower repairman. 

  Survivors include his wife, Juanita (Blandin) Thornton, as well as his 3 Daughters, Gail (William) Locke of Westfield, Linda Hinds of Copperas Cove, TX and Gloria (Tom Chido) Kawski of Erie, PA. Howard is further survived by his 4 grandchildren, Libbey Locke, Brian Hinds, Yvonne Minton and Hope Davis and by his 6 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson.                    

  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Sarah Lynn Locke and by his 2 brothers, Gordon and Gerald Thornton and by his 2 sisters, Florence Noel and Bernice Kyer.
  Keeping with Howard's wishes, there will be no visitation and all services will be private 
  Private burial was in Portland Evergreen Cemetery.
  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue, 7540 North Gale St., Westfield, NY 14787

 Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY 14787.

Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send the Thornton family a message of sympathy, to light a Memorial Candle or for further information.