Obituary

Betty Lou Thornton, 94 years old, of Pratt, WV, passed peacefully away on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

She was born on June 26, 1931, in Cannelton, Fayette County, WV, to parents Clarence Oschael McCoy Sr. and Ruth (Lucas) McCoy.

Shortly after graduating from Montgomery High School in 1950, Betty was hired as secretary for C&O Railroad in Handley, WV, where she worked for 10 years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband after being married for 48 years to Lester L. Thornton Sr.; and her siblings, Jackie (McCoy) Whittington, Clarence Oschael McCoy Jr. and Nancy (McCoy) Jones.

Betty is survived by her loving children: Vickie (Thornton) Young of St. Louis, MO; Lester “Lynn” Thornton Jr. of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Eric W Thornton of Charleston, WV; grandson, David W. Thornton of Pratt, WV; her brother, Keith McCoy of Pinch, WV, her unofficial adopted daughters: Diane Lowe of Pratt, WV, Patricia Lowe Hartman of South Charleston, WV, Barbara Oliver from Pratt, WV, and Deborah Oliver Bigenho of Pittsburgh, PA. and loving relatives too numerous to mention.

Betty loved caring for the people in her community.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. (ET) on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Church of the Good Shepherd, 1203 Center Street (one block after crossing railroad tracks), Hansford, WV 25103. For those unable to attend: Service will also be live-streamed https://www.facebook.com/GoodShepherdHansford/ . Service also accessible on internet after service for 24 hours before it will be deleted.

Visitation with family will begin one hour prior inside church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hansford Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, c/o Treasurer, Box 224, Pratt, WV 25162 and/or Kanawha Hospice Care, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25387.

Condolences may be sent to her family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.