Homer A. Thornton

Homer A. Thornton, 82, of Meadville, a retired landscaper and business owner, died Wednesday, July 1, 1992, at Meadville Medical Center following a brief illness.

He was born in Springboro, July 6, 1909, a son of Charles Oliver and Marietta Beeman Thornton.  He married Helen A. Brock, July 6, 1938.  She survives.

He graduated from Springboro High School and in 1931 from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor of science degree in landscape architecture.  He then opened a landscape practice in Meadville and was active for many years in the design and construction of many of the city parks and playgrounds, including Ellsworth, Huidekoper, Shadybrook and Pomona.

During World War II, he ran war rooms with Gen. "Wild Bill" Donovan on Grosvener Street in London.  He worked with the Free French Forces of the Interior at Bryanston Square and worked in cartography, making maps for the post-war reconstruction of Europe.  He was transferred to Germany where he worked under Allen Dulles, later CIA director.

Later he purchased Freeland Nursery at Conneaut Lake which he and his wife operated for 22 years.  He also was an assistant in the Meadville City Engineer's Office from 1945 to 1947 and served as landscaper in the area from 1931 to 1968.  He served as landscape architect for Allegheny College until 1968.

He was a member and officer of the Christmas Tree Growers Assn., Crawford County Christmas Tree Growers Assn., Pennsylvania Nurserymen's Assn., and Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Assn.

He was an original member of Sadsbury Township Planning Commission and served on Crawford County Planning Commission for 13 years, retiring in 1979.  He also was a member of Crawford Area Transportation Authority, member and former trustee of First Presbyterian Church and member of Masonic Lodge 408.

Other civic activites included charter member of the Bird and Tree Club, director of John Brown Hertiage Assn., Crawford County Historical Society, Meadville Kiwanis Club, New Castle Consistory, Erie Zem Zem Shrine Temple and Crawford County Shrine Club, 1989 Rotary Person of the Year, former trustee of the Presbytery of Lake Erie, and Meadville Round Table.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include thirteen nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy T. Beery and a brother, J. Keith Thornton.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Greendale Cemetery.