Lyle E. Thornton, 81, Lenexa, KS, died Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at Overland Park Regional Hospital.
He was born April 25, 1940 to Charles (Chuck) and Louella Thornton of Holton, KS. Both his parents and his brother, Leo, preceded him in death. His devoted wife of 53 years, Paulette (Deke) Thornton survives.
Lyle was a 1958 graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School. He enjoyed working with electronics and became a technician. He first began working in television repair and maintained that as his personal side business for many years. He began working at KU Medical Hospital keeping various machines patient - ready for necessary evaluations and this experience led him to his work with Kodak Medical Diagnostic Equipment. His visits to regional hospitals to do the needed repairs began with him giving the hospital staff a box of Lamar Donuts. This gave Lyle the nickname of Dr. Donuts. He made many friends with this thoughtful box of kindness that eased tensions in many stressful situations.
Wherever Lyle and Paulette were, everyone knew there would be plenty of good food and fun. Among his friends and family Lyle enjoyed barbecues, fish fries, and making ice cream. He and Paulette enjoyed entertaining friends and family both at their home in Lenexa and at their lake home at Lake of the Ozarks where cruising on their pontoon was a favorite pastime.
Lyle enjoyed dancing, surprising Halloween trick or treaters from the back of his El Camino, teasing his niece and nephew with extremely small portions of food when asking for more, his Pomeranian dogs, making lists, swap & shop, garage sales, Elvis Presley, country western music and controlling everything from his favorite seat at the kitchen table. Lyle always kept himself busy and mixed work with play and all the work made the play more fun for everyone.
Lyle and Paulette enjoyed traveling and two of their longer trips were to England, Scotland, France, Belgium, and Germany with family and their trip to Hawaii with friends. Memories of those trips always included at least one funny story and Lyle delighted in telling it. He made sure he took plenty of slides on those trips and later he enjoyed video recording.
He is survived by his wife Paulette, brother - in - law Jerry Deke (wife Regina), nephew John Deke ( wife Susan), niece Jocelyn Stidham (husband Ryan), and 3 great nephews and 1 great niece and many extended family and friends.
Family will meet friends at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission Kansas at 10:00 a.m. December 7, 2021 followed by a memorial service at the church.
The family asks in memory and honor of Lyle that you donate to:
Children’s Mercy Hospital
C/O Dept. of Philanthropy
2401 Gillham Road
Kansas City, MO 64108
OR
Trinity Lutheran Church
5601 W 62nd Street
Mission, KS 66202
OR
Going to the Dogs
P.O. Box 11624
Overland Park, KS 66207
Memorial Service
Start Date: December 7, 2021, 11:00 am
End Date: December 7, 2021, 12:00 am
Trinity Lutheran Church
5601 W. 62nd St.
Mission, KS 66202
Phone: 913-432-5441
Visitation
Start Date: December 7, 2021, 10:00 am
End Date: December 7, 2021, 11:00 am
Trinity Lutheran Church
5601 W. 62nd St.
Mission, KS 66202
Phone: 913-432-5441
He was born April 25, 1940 to Charles (Chuck) and Louella Thornton of Holton, KS. Both his parents and his brother, Leo, preceded him in death. His devoted wife of 53 years, Paulette (Deke) Thornton survives.
Lyle was a 1958 graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School. He enjoyed working with electronics and became a technician. He first began working in television repair and maintained that as his personal side business for many years. He began working at KU Medical Hospital keeping various machines patient - ready for necessary evaluations and this experience led him to his work with Kodak Medical Diagnostic Equipment. His visits to regional hospitals to do the needed repairs began with him giving the hospital staff a box of Lamar Donuts. This gave Lyle the nickname of Dr. Donuts. He made many friends with this thoughtful box of kindness that eased tensions in many stressful situations.
Wherever Lyle and Paulette were, everyone knew there would be plenty of good food and fun. Among his friends and family Lyle enjoyed barbecues, fish fries, and making ice cream. He and Paulette enjoyed entertaining friends and family both at their home in Lenexa and at their lake home at Lake of the Ozarks where cruising on their pontoon was a favorite pastime.
Lyle enjoyed dancing, surprising Halloween trick or treaters from the back of his El Camino, teasing his niece and nephew with extremely small portions of food when asking for more, his Pomeranian dogs, making lists, swap & shop, garage sales, Elvis Presley, country western music and controlling everything from his favorite seat at the kitchen table. Lyle always kept himself busy and mixed work with play and all the work made the play more fun for everyone.
Lyle and Paulette enjoyed traveling and two of their longer trips were to England, Scotland, France, Belgium, and Germany with family and their trip to Hawaii with friends. Memories of those trips always included at least one funny story and Lyle delighted in telling it. He made sure he took plenty of slides on those trips and later he enjoyed video recording.
He is survived by his wife Paulette, brother - in - law Jerry Deke (wife Regina), nephew John Deke ( wife Susan), niece Jocelyn Stidham (husband Ryan), and 3 great nephews and 1 great niece and many extended family and friends.
Family will meet friends at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission Kansas at 10:00 a.m. December 7, 2021 followed by a memorial service at the church.
The family asks in memory and honor of Lyle that you donate to:
Children’s Mercy Hospital
C/O Dept. of Philanthropy
2401 Gillham Road
Kansas City, MO 64108
OR
Trinity Lutheran Church
5601 W 62nd Street
Mission, KS 66202
OR
Going to the Dogs
P.O. Box 11624
Overland Park, KS 66207
Events
Memorial Service
Start Date: December 7, 2021, 11:00 am
End Date: December 7, 2021, 12:00 am
Trinity Lutheran Church
5601 W. 62nd St.
Mission, KS 66202
Phone: 913-432-5441
Visitation
Start Date: December 7, 2021, 10:00 am
End Date: December 7, 2021, 11:00 am
Trinity Lutheran Church
5601 W. 62nd St.
Mission, KS 66202
Phone: 913-432-5441
Guestbook
Visits: 7
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