James F. “Jim” Thornburg, 80, grew his wings and flew to Heaven on Sunday, July 14, 2019.

James was born in Wister, Oklahoma. He attended Panola High and graduated as Valedictorian in 1958. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1958, and served in Vietnam for 12 months. He was stationed at Perrin AFB where his Unit had been selected as the best aircraft maintenance organization in the U.S. Air Force. He was a supply special specialist with the 4780th Air Defense winner of the 1969, Daedalian Maintenance Trophy. This marked the first time an Aerospace Defense Command (ADC) unit has won the stiff Air Force-wide competition for the annual award which was established by the order of Daedalians, an organization founded by World War I pilots.

Jim was a caring, patient, loving husband and father with a heart of gold. He married Mary Thornburg from Michigan in 1963 and like most military families they were stationed all over the world and ended up back in Texas where he retired from the military as Master Sergeant in 1984.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruthie Hunnicutt; step-father, Cecil Hunnicutt; and sisters, Mae Crabtree, Linda Bodiford and Peggy Sue Hunnicutt.

Survivors: Ex-wife, Mary Thornburg-Godin and her partner, Phillip Godin of Azle; daughters, Melissa Becerra and Roy Wagner of Fort Worth, Debbie Adams and husband, Kurt of Azle, and Sherry McKinney of Fort Worth; son, Brian Thornburg and wife, Michelle of Saginaw; brothers, Larry Thornburg, Fred Thornburg, Eddie Hunnicutt, Robert Hunnicutt and Rick Hunnicutt; grandchildren, Michelle Ward, Frank James Becerra, Davis Adams, Lauren Cox, Morgan Thornburg, Kirstie Davis, Blake Thornburg and Koby Adams, and 12 great-grandchildren, who he loved more than anything.

Memorial Service at First Baptist Church of Wilburton, Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. with Dr. Paul Brady and Rev. Willard Francis officiating. Burial at Lutie Cemetery, Wilburton, Oklahoma.

SERVICES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF WALDROP FUNERAL HOME, WILBURTON, OKLAHOMA

Waldrop Funeral Home