Mary Evans Thornton, 96, of Chambersburg, PA, formerly of Winchester, VA died peacefully on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at Chambersburg Hospital.

Mary was born May 23, 1920 in Madden, MS; the daughter of William Bryan and Essie Parker Evans. She graduated from Delta State Teachers College. She married Andrew Harmon Thornton on February 27, 1943 in Amory, MS. He preceded her in death in 2015.

While in Winchester, she was an active member of the First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School. Mary taught Sunday school for almost 40 years. She also loved to cook and served on the church’s Hospitality Committee.

She is survived by her daughters, Marilyn Prock and husband, Dan, of Stephens City, VA, Camille Thornton of Stephens City, Rachel Meyers and husband, Mitch, of Warrenton, VA and Emily Crouch and husband, Perry, of Virginia Beach, VA; two sisters, Nita Hill of Becker, MS and Anne Barnard of Pensacola, FL; ten grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren.

Two sisters, Betty Gay and Ruth Owen; and one brother, William Evans, Jr., preceded her in death.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at the chapel at Penn Hall, 1425 Philadelphia Avenue, Chambersburg, PA at 2:00 p.m. with Chaplain Brenda Doyle officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 417 Phoenix Drive, Unit A, Chambersburg, PA 17201 or to Menno Haven, Inc., 2011 Scotland Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201

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