Arlene Thornton

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Arlene M. Thornton, 91, of Altamont, died at 5:35 p.m., Friday, August 23, 2019 at the Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.

She was born February 29, 1928, at Walnut, to Roy E. and Gertrude L. (Pantle) Hazen. She grew up in the Walnut, Stark and St. Paul areas and graduated from the Stark High School.

On March 17, 1946 she and Harold E. Thornton were married in Girard. They moved to Parsons in 1948 and operated the Hamburger Hut in the 1900 block of Broadway from 1948 to 1964. They operated the Strauss Club from 1971 to 1990. She was credit manager for the Sears Store for over 20 years.

After closing the café she and Harold lived in the rural Parsons area several years. Harold preceded her in death on October 31, 1991. After his death she moved to the Grand Lake area in Oklahoma and in 2013 moved to the Big Hill area west of Parsons. A year later she settled into an apartment on North Huston in Altamont.

Arlene was a member of the First Baptist Church of Altamont and participate in a Bible study group. She enjoyed family activities, reading books, embroidering, playing cards, poker and dominoes.

Surviving are three children, Harold L. Thornton (Lyn) of Wyoming, Sandy Nading (Bill) of Springfield, MO and Kathy Ruehle (Rod) of Altamont; grandchildren, Kris Clemens (Cole), Kelly Vanderford, Ted Kennedy (Amanda) Dave Kennedy, Tad Thornton (Tonya), Tracey Hughes (Sam), Jake Mathis (Samantha), Jamie Whittley (Matthew), Kyle Ruehle (Brittany), Amanda Agee (Josh) and Lee Nading (Ashley); 30 great-grandchildren; two brothers, William “Bill” Hazen (Rosie) of Grove, OK and Buford Hazen (Pat) of Chanute; a sister, Wilma Ward of Grove, OK and a sister-in-law, Marge Hazen, of Parsons.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Harold, three brothers, George Hazen, Richard Hazen and Warren Hazen and a sister, Verda Jean Hazen.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, with Rev. Greg Garrett officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday. Memorials are suggested to either the Altamont Senior Citizens Center or the Altamont Public Library. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online messages may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.