Eva Gaither Thornberry

Thornberry, Eva Gaither, age 77, die Monday June 10, 2013 at Baptist Health. Eva was born in Grayson County, KY on August 26, 1935, the only child of Floyd E. and Ruby (Hayse) Gaither, who moved to Louisville in 1939. She was raised in the old Elliott Park Neighborhood and attended F.T. Salisbury Elem.; Western Jr. High and Shawnee High School. She was a member of the old 23rd & Broadway Baptist Church. Eva worked for AT&T, the Louisville Civil Service and the Adams Company. She married her childhood sweetheart, Charlie Thornberry, and lived 50 years in the Prairie Village and Windsor Forest neighborhoods. Eva was one of the founders of the national organization, The Society of John Gaither Descendants, and served as newsletter editor, historian and treasurer. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution since 1966 and belongs to the Russell Springs Chapter, Leitchfield, KY. Also a member of the Society of the descendants of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge; Society of Maureen Duval of Maryland; Haycraft Society of Maryland; The Filson Club; Grayson County Historical Society; Kentucky Historical Society; Honorable Kentucky Colonels; Shawnee High School Alumni Association; National Arbor Society; The Kentucky Derby Museum; Scottish Clan MacLeod; Abraham Lincoln Society; The Jamestown Society; Daughters of Union Veterans; Friends of Valley Forge; Friends of Andersonville Prison and the Abraham Lincoln Library, Springfield, Illinois. Eva’s favorite pastimes, besides her family, were researching for nearly Sixty years all the branches of the Gaither family back to 1599 and compiling the most complete history on the family nationwide and how they connected to one ancestor, John Gater, born 1599. She and Charlie spent their retirement traveling and enjoying plays, shows, festivals, ball games and life together. Besides her Husband, Eva is survived by her Son: Mark Thornberry of Louisville, and Daughters Kim Moore (Clyde) of Louisville and Kelly Thornberry of Georgetown, KY. Also Seven Grandchildren: Ashley Moore, Brittany Miller, Bradley Thornberry, Jon Thornberry, Clay Upchurch, Taylor Upchurch and Landon Upchurch; and Four Great Grandchildren. Funeral Services will be 10: AM Friday at Owen Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Hwy with burial in Louisville Memorial Gardens West. Visitation will be Thursday 2 – 8 PM. In lieu of flowers please send donations to: The Grayson County Historical Society, P.O. Box 84, Leitchfield, KY 42754