Mrs. Doris E. Thornton

February 6, 1921 - August 4, 2020

Doris E. Thornton, age 99, passed away peacefully in her sleep on 4 August 2020 after a ten plus year battle with Alzheimer’s. Doris was born in Glen Arm, MD to Raymond and Emma Billingsley, the second of three children. After graduating from Towson High School, she married James Thornton, and after his return from fighting in the Pacific during World War II they built a home and their life together in Towson, MD. She lived there until her disease forced her to move to a Memory Care facility. She worked all her adult life for the US Government as a civil servant until retiring. She loved to garden and also had a large collection of indoor plants, being especially proud of her roses outside and orchids inside. She loved cats, caring for many through the years. Doris was a very caring person and good friend and good neighbor to many and was loved by all, especially her extended family. Doris was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her older sister, Mary L. Holtgreve, and her younger brother, Raymond Billingsley Jr. She is survived to cherish her memories by her sister-in-law Polly Thornton, her nieces Mary L. Wegl and Amy Hoffman, her nephew David Thornton and several close friends and former neighbors. Due to the COVID 19 epidemic, her funeral service will be private to be followed by a memorial service sometime after COVID 19 restrictions are lifted. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Doris’ name to the Alzheimer’s Association of America.