Joe Marion Thornburg's Obituary
Joseph (Joe) (Pete) Marion Thornburg was born on May 30, 1925 on a farm near Slick, Oklahoma, to Lucy and Joseph M. Thornburg, Sr., the last of ten children (three daughters and seven sons). His dad was a sharecropper before becoming manager of a feed store. When Joe was only 4 or 5 years old, his dad went to a silent movie that had a character called Pistol Pete. When Joe Sr. left the movie, he bought his son a little cap gun and started calling him Pistol Pete. The nickname stuck. He was Pete to family and friends, but he was Joe to teachers and later to his professional colleagues. Joe’s father died on November 17, 1935 while walking home from work, a victim of a drunk driver. After his father’s death, his older brother Robert (Shorty) moved Joe and his mother to his home on a Texaco oil lease near Beggs.Joe attended Osage High School where he met Wilma Fern Wells, whom he later married. Joe was well known for his softball skill. One summer during a tournament in Okmulgee, the catcher was injured in a game, and the coach picked up a catcher’s mitt and asked for a volunteer. There was none so the coach handed Joe the mitt and said thank you. From that time on, Joe was a catcher and always loved it. He continued to play softball until his late forties.One June 11, 1943, he entered the U.S. Navy, barely eighteen and having never been on a long trip. He said the train ride from Oklahoma City to boot camp in San Diego was a long and lonesome ride. After completing boot training and signal school, he was shipped out to Pearl Harbor. There he was assigned to the LCI (G) 438 of Group Eight, Flotilla 3. The LCI 438 had been converted from a Landing Craft Infantry to a gun ship. During the fourteen months he served aboard the LCI 438, the sailors shelled enemy beaches and furnished fire support for the Underwater Demolition Teams and Marine landings on the islands of Saipan, Guam, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. Although he proudly served, he found it hard to talk about his experiences for many years.In August 1945, Joe returned home on a 30-day leave and he and Wilma Fern Wells were married. When the war ended, he was honorably discharged and came home to his new wife in Beggs and they began their life together. He went to Okmulgee Business College and studied accounting. He continued his education at the University of Tulsa and enjoyed a successful career in accounting. After working for Novak Drilling Company, Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, and BMC Advertising, he started his own successful accounting firm. He retired from his business in 1987.He and Fern had a busy life raising four daughters, Donna, Gayle, Dayle, and Jodi. There were Saturdays at Ft. Gibson Lake fishing and water skiing, but Sundays would always find the family in church. He and Fern shared a strong faith and led their family by example. They were active in church, and were founding members of Eastland Assembly of God. Joe served as treasurer and deacon for many years. Fern enjoyed hosting Sunday School parties and dinners for church functions. Joe was a faithful follower of Christ. He put his faith into action by generously helping many people without ever attracting attention to his generosity. He was admired and respected by many young people in the church who much later in life talked about his godly influence.Joe valued his family and they all knew it. If any of his children or grandchildren asked for something or needed something, he would do all he could to meet their need. He always taught them to live by the Golden Rule, and wanted them to stay close to each other and to God. His advice when sought was always wise and thoughtful. He delighted in each new grandchild, then each new great-grandchild. He is deeply loved and respected by them all. He was a devoted caregiver to his wife when her health declined. Their loving marriage of 67 years was an example to everyone of what a good marriage could be.He was a loyal friend, maintaining lifelong friendships and always eager to make new ones. He often commented that he missed his many friends who had passed on before him. He especially missed his beloved Fern after her death in November 2012. It was the hardest thing he endured. He began going to McDonalds at Mingo and 81st for coffee every morning. There he met two other men who had also recently lost their spouses and their mutual support was a gift from God. The coffee group grew to include many new friends who cared for him and gave him a reason to get up in the morning. He loved to share his stories – and he had a lot of good ones. He even carried a small photo album so he could illustrate his Navy days and show pictures of Fern and “the girls.” He liked to wear his World War II cap and was honored when people stopped to thank him for his service. He was pleased when they told him he didn’t look old enough to have served in WWII.Joe’s family has grown to include sons-in-law, nine grandchildren and their spouses and eight grandchildren along with the step-children and step-grandchildren of Donna and Gayle. On May 25th the family along with old and new friends gathered to celebrate his 90th birthday. It was a beautiful celebration – a surprise breakfast at McDonalds where family and friends filled the restaurant – and a dinner at his daughter’s in the evening with all his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. He loved every minute. On his “official” birthday, he enjoyed a dinner with family and friends where the whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday. It was a good day. The next morning he woke up in heaven, a peaceful unexpected passing – perhaps a reward for a life well-lived.Joe (Pete) Thornburg was a man of integrity and character and leaves behind for his family and friends a wonderful legacy of faith, family, friendship, and patriotism to cherish. He will be deeply missed.Services will be held on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 10:00 am at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow in Beggs, Oklahoma. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2015 at Floral Haven Funeral Home from 12 pm to 8 pm with family to greet from 5 pm to 8 pm.
What’s your fondest memory of Joe?
What’s a lesson you learned from Joe?
Share a story where Joe's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Joe you’ll never forget.
How did Joe make you smile?