Margaret A. Thornton

Margaret Thornton, 77, known to many as “Mrs. Thornton,” passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on the morning of Friday, May 10, 2024 at Bucyrus Community Hospital.

Margaret Ann (Fehrman) Thornton was born January 12, 1947, at Holzer Hospital, Gallipolis, Ohio to George Fehrman and Margaret (Hildenbrand) Fehrman of Jackson.  Margaret Ann grew up on Columbia Street in Jackson and attended the Jackson City Schools, graduating in 1965.  Following her graduation, she enrolled as a first-generation student at West Virginia Wesleyan College and graduated with a B.A. in English and Spanish.  She went on to Bowling Green State University, where she obtained a master’s degree in English.  In 1969, she married Jackson native George E. Thornton, and he survives.

Margaret Ann was a career teacher, teaching English, speech, and Spanish for 40 years, including positions at Hopewell Loudon High School, Wynford High School, and Bucyrus High School.  For nearly a decade she taught a dual enrollment class for Kenyon College.  She kept in touch with many of her former students through the years.  She was passionate about helping students get college scholarships and getting them matched with the right school.   Eventually in 2000 she and George founded a 501c3 non-profit, Crawford College Connection, dedicated to helping local Crawford County students achieve their college dreams.

The Thorntons have three daughters who survive – Jennifer Brooke (Mark Taylor), Amy Leigh (Ben Keller), and Anne Elizabeth (Ian Helmick).  She loved being a grandmother to three grandchildren:  Ben Jones and Audrey and Iris Helmick.  She also “parented” several dogs, including rescues.

During her life, Margaret was 4-H club advisor and Sunday school teacher at the Epworth Methodist Church.  She was twice nominated for Ohio Teacher of the Year, and she was named Bucyrus Citizen of the Year in 2003.

In 1984, Margaret began running.  When her knees became too painful, she walked, but she still moved forward.  She completed numerous 5k’s, 10k’s, half marathons, and four marathons.  She completed the Brattie Run for many years, and she and her husband helped with the three-mile Brattie Walk.

A memorial service will be held at Bucyrus United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 29 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation 2 hours prior to the service.  Her ashes will be scattered at a later time on the Brattie Run course, on Columbia St. in Jackson, Ohio and on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan.  Memorial contributions can be made payable to the Margaret Thornton Scholarship at Crawford College Connection, to the Fehrman-Thornton Scholarship Fund at West Virginia Wesleyan College, or to the Humane Society Serving Crawford County.  Contributions can be made through Wise Funeral Service.

Memories and photos are encouraged to be shared in the online guestbook.