Basil R. Thornton, 94, passed away quietly in his sleep onJanuary 1, 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimers and a short flu. Basil,"Sparks", as he was known, was born in Carnesville, Georgia. Heproudly served in WWII in the Coast Guard and Navy as a Radio CommunicationsSpecialist, flying missions as part of flight crews to South America on PanAmerican Airlines.
After the war he married his childhood sweetheart, NormaJean. When his duties in the cockpits became integrated into the planes'technology, he tried his hand as a business owner, insurance sales, student atthe University of Florida and finally as an air traffic controller inJacksonville Florida and later Vero Beach, Florida where he remained untilretirement.
Sparks and Norma moved to the Lake Oconee area ofGreensboro, Georgia in 1984 where he was an avid outdoors-man and charter memberof the Greensboro Writer's Guild, active member of Church of the Redeemer,proud member of the American Legion in Athens, Georgia and where he lovinglyrestored their circa 1850 farmhouse. After his wife's death, Sparks lived inthe Atlanta area for five years where he danced, laughed and was loved by manynew friends.
He is survived by daughters Zilca Parker, Teena Mills(Jerry), Lori Hamrick (Richard); brother Ike and family; Grandchildren Christopher Hall (Stephanie), TiffanyHarvey (Dave), Jason Keeler (Jennifer), JeffersonBennett (Andrea) and Victoria Bennett; Great-Grandchildren Christopher Hall Jr., Sean, Tessa andGwyneth Harvey, Mollie and Connor Keeler, Elizabeth and August Bennett.
Memorial Service: Saturday, January 12th at 11:00 A.M. Church of the Redeemer 303 N. Main Street Greensboro, GA 30642
Donations to the Greensboro Writer's Guild or theAlzheimer's Association are greatly appreciated in lieu of flowers.
