Obituary for Clara Thornburgh

Clara Margaret Thornburgh

(January 19, 1923 – May 23, 2016)

Clara Margaret Thornburgh, a long time resident of the Ranch Drive Community of Ponca City, entered the gates of Heaven on Monday, May 23, 2016. Graveside rites will be held at 10 AM on Friday, May 27 at the Karoma Cemetery in Goltry, Oklahoma. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 PM at the Community Christian Church in Ponca City with the Reverend Susan Payne officiating.

Clara, the eighth child of Avery Henry Chapman and Emma Rebecca Dunn, was born on January 19, 1923 near Leedey in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. On April 7, 1939 she married Troy Lester Denson in Enid, Oklahoma. During their marriage they became the parents of Robert, Melvin, Mickey, and Glenda Kay Denson. On May 10, 1947 Clara married Ivan Wesley Thornburgh in Enid, Oklahoma. During the early years of their marriage they lived in Kansas and Oklahoma as he worked on many grain elevators. Later they moved to a farm near Jet, Oklahoma. After building a new home in Enid in the middle of the 1950s, they moved to Ponca City in 1961 where they resided for the rest of their lives. Clara worked at home caring for their three children, Wilma, Rita, and Johnny Thornburgh while Ivan worked as a carpenter.

Clara is survived by children Robert Denson and his wife, Paula, of Oklahoma City; Melvin Denson and his wife, Anita , of Peyton, Colorado; Mickey Denson of Carlisle, Arkansas; Wilma Thornburgh Long and her husband, Don ,of Oklahoma City, and Johnny Thornburgh and his wife, Ann, of Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Mrs. Thornburgh is also survived by grandchildren: Kelly Denson Goebel and her husband, Tony; Glenda Denson Browning; Debbie Denson Tatum; Kim Denson, Melvin Denson, Jr. and his wife, Leah; and Kenneth Denson and his wife, Loraine, all of Colorado; Elizabeth Long Logan and her husband, Richmond, of Oklahoma City; Brooke Long of Keller, Texas; Tamara Thomas-Cichon of Weeki Wachee, Florida; Marty Thomas of Saratoga, Wyoming. Mrs. Thornburgh is also survived by sixteen (16) great-grandchildren. She is also survived by 11 great-great grandchildren.

Mrs. Thornburgh was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan Thornburgh; daughter Glenda Kay Denson; daughter Rita Thornburgh and grandchildren Kathryn Elaine Denson and Kent Forest Long.

Memorial contributions may be given to Community Christian Church in Ponca City, Oklahoma. The family will be at her home on Thursday to greet visitors.

Source: Trout Funeral Home