David M. Thornton

David M. Thornton, 87, of Iowa Falls, passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at Scenic Manor. A funeral service for the immediate family only will be held on Friday, December 18, 2020 at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls. The service may be viewed on the Iowa Falls UMC Facebook page at 9:00 AM on Friday. Woodley Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Iowa Falls is caring for Dave and his family. David Monroe Thornton was a blessing to this world. He was born April 28, 1933 to Gurney Monroe and Lou Reba (Faris) Thornton. He was born in the house his grandparents built and his mother and father's place until Lou Reba passed in 1997. He loved visiting this house and telling his kids stories about growing up in New Providence, Iowa. David grew up repairing engines and anything he could get his hands on. He built and raced soapbox derby cars in 1947 and 1948, winning his class in Marshalltown, Iowa. David graduated from New Providence school. After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and was trained on jet engine repair for the B47 bomber at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas. Upon returning from the Air Force, he helped his mother after his father's untimely death, Gurney Monroe Thornton. On July 31, 1955 David eloped with his high school sweetheart and nursing student Marilynn May Runyan. They were married in Albert Lea, Minnesota. In those days, nursing students could not get married, but David and Marilynn could not wait. David and Marilynn moved to Iowa Falls and started their family (Mark, Dan, and Teresa). His family would be the focus of his life. David enjoyed fishing and loved to take his kids and grandchildren on fishing trips. He loved to bait the hooks and laugh and cry with the kids when the fish was big and flopping around in the boat. He loved to take the grandchildren on trips in his motor home, including a trip up the east coast from North Carolina to Maine. Some of the grand children's favorite memories were rides in the lawn tractor wagon, grilling weenies with BBQ sauce, building woodworking projects, playing card games and making delicious pancake breakfasts. David tried different careers, but the jobs he liked most were working at automotive shops, including Hough Motor Co in Eldora, Maynard's Garage in New Providence and Dick Terveer's Gas Station in Iowa Falls. David had a fantastic ability to understand mechanical and electrical devices, and in 1959 was approached to work for Iowa Electric (I.E.) Light and Power, where he began a 33-year career. He would tell stories about tornados, snow and ice storms, and the brotherhood of being around men who kept cities warm in winter and cool in the summer. David's kids loved to climb around on the "Hi-Ranger" trucks and pretend to be "Linemen." David retired from, I.E., in 1991. Upon retirement from, I.E., he began a second career as a licensed electrician. He started a house wiring business, T&T Enterprises, with fellow lineman and friend, Eugene "Tis" Tystahl. After retiring from his second career, David and Marilynn purchased a motorhome and toured the country. Outside of visits to see kids and grandkids, his most cherished trip was to Alaska. David is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marilynn, of Iowa Falls, Iowa; sons, Mark (Kim) Thornton of Rochester, Minnesota and Dan Thornton (fiancée Cheri Rinke) of Carrollton, Texas; daughter, Teresa (John) Prendergast of Greensboro, North Carolina; grandchildren, Brant (Elizabeth) Thornton of Rochester, Minnesota, Kirk Thornton of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Callie (Leo) Hansen of Chicago, Illinois, Emma Thornton of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Caila Prendergast of Washington, D.C., Anne Prendergast of Washington, D.C. and David Prendergast of Greensboro, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents. David's granddaughter, Callie, is expecting the family's first great-granddaughter in April. David is the only person who has been entrusted with knowing the new baby's name. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the family.

Tributes

David M. Thornton

April 28, 1933 - December 15, 2020