Julia Ann Thornton

Julia (85) passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at Saint Joseph Hospital after fighting COVID-19. Born to Leonard and Harriet (Armstrong) Kuckherman in Dayton, Ohio, she graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in Dayton, and went on to graduate from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. This is where she met her husband Larry, and they were married for 64 years. They had three children: Larry, Rebecca, and Michaele. They went to McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois, where Larry graduated. She was a very supportive pastor's wife as they worked together in ministry in Presbyterian (USA) churches in Waterman, Ill., Elmhurst, Ill., Oakland, Calif., Kansas City, Mo., Leawood, Kan., Edina, Minn., and at Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kan., for 55 years.

When she was in high school in her home church in Dayton, she asked her pastor why high school youth can't go on mission and work groups like college-aged youth? After considering her idea, she helped start the first high school mission trip to Kentucky. When she and Larry started ministry with youth, they built on her vision for high school youth ministry. She learned how to challenge youth to be leaders by helping with the planning, cooking, and service. They continued this ministry in all the churches they served, taking youth on mission trips and health fairs to Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, inner city Chicago, Oklahoma, Ohio, Arizona and Alabama. After the Alabama trip, her parents said to her, why can't we have these experiences like our kids? That challenge prompted a new vision for her to start mission, study, and overseas trips for families and adults. So, one of the many delights of her life was planning, studying and escorting travel groups in the churches where she served from 1979 to 2001 to destinations such as England, Scotland, Ireland, Israel, Greece, Italy, Egypt, Czech Republic, and Thailand.

She also worked many years as a social worker in Kansas. She loved caring for children, teaching in church schools, VBS, and writing children's stories to use in church school classes. She really cared for people and responded to their many needs with genuine love. She loved and cared for plants and flowers as well as sewing and needle-point.

She is survived by her husband, Larry; sister Ruth Massey Vinz of Huntsville, Ala.; three children: Larry Thornton (Jan) of Oregon, Rebecca Williams (Scott) of Colorado, and Michaele Curfman (Kelly) of Florida; four grandchildren: Sarah, Tim, Troy and Ava; and two great-grandchildren: Isaac and Grace.

Here are Julia's written thoughts about her passing:
Julia's journey on Earth is ended. She has started the journey that she has long anticipated to her heavenly home. God blessed her the entire time she was on Earth. Trying to be supportive of Larry's ministry in the Presbyterian (USA) Church. Many opportunities and blessings enriched our lives. Visiting many of God's children around the world was most enriching. Now Julia has made her final trip alone. Thank you, all of you, for being a part of my life.