The Thorntons

Mr. and Mrs. William P. Thornton, Hanover Township and Penn Lake, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 20. Bill and Mary Ellen were married on Aug. 20, 1960, in St. Theresa’s Church, Old River Road, Wilkes-Barre. The concelebrated Mass was offered by the Rev. John Sullivan, cousin of the bride; the Rev. Richard Frank, cousin of the groom; and the Rev. Arnold Smith, pastor.

Mrs. Thornton is the former Mary Ellen Murphy, daughter of the late Andrew and Ruth Murphy. She obtained her degree in nursing from Misericordia University in 1958 and is a retired school nurse for Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18.

Mr. Thornton is the son of the late John and Eleanor Thornton. He obtained his degree in education and teaching certification from King’s College in 1959. He is a retired English and Latin teacher from the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.

Mr. and Mrs. Thornton have been lifelong members of St. Nicholas Church, South Washington St., Wilkes-Barre, serving in numerous church ministries.

Bill and Mary Ellen are blessed with five children and ten grandchildren. They are: Attorney William P. Thornton Jr. and his wife, Katherine (Eagen), and their children, Evan and Emma, Wyomissing; Mary Elizabeth (Thornton) Horvitz and her husband, Dr. Lewis Horvitz, and their daughters, Gabrielle and Shanley, Voorhees, N.J.; Michael and his wife, Josephine (Dait), and their children, James and Jacqueline, Lancaster; Shawn and his wife, Karin (Tomko), and their twin children, Brian and Brittany, Snydersville; and Thomas and his wife, Tina (Popko) and their children, Andrew and Abby, also of Snydersville.

The couple recently attended the Scranton Diocese’s 50th Anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Bambera on June 13 at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton. They will gather with family to renew their marriage vows at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Aug. 22 at St. Nicholas Church, Wilkes-Barre. A family dinner sponsored by their children and spouses will be celebrated at the Westmoreland Club on Aug. 21.