Obit of Gilliland, Jo Wade (Thornton) - Custer County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 19 Jul 2009 Return to Custer County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/custer/custer.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::NOT LISTED Gilliland, Jo Wade (Thornton) Jo Wade (Thornton) Gilliland was born in Maysville, OK on March 5, 1917, the only child of Harry David Wade and Paralee Laura Elizabeth Payne. Although she was christened Jeanetta Jo Wade, in her early teens she began using the name of her step-father, Thurston E. Thornton, and was thereafter known as Jo Wade Thornton. She attended Oklahoma City Public Schools through her sophomore year at 'Old' Classen High School. In 1932 her family moved to Clinton, OK where she completed her junior year, then returned to Oklahoma City and graduated from Classen in 1934. While living in Clinton she met her future husband and made many lifelong friends. She attended Oklahoma College for women in Chickasha for one year, transferred to the University of Oklahoma and completed two years in the School of Fine Arts. While at OU she was a member of Delta Gamma and was the 1937 Engineering Queen. She and Richard H. Gilliland were married on October 28, 1939 at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. During World War II, while Dick was serving in the U.S. Army, they were able to be together at Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio TX for 14 months and Ft. Riley, Kansas for 5 months, before he was shipped overseas. During the remainder of the war, she lived in Oklahoma City with her two older children and her mother. The rest of her life was spent in Oklahoma City, during which time she gave birth to two more children. Her lifelong interests centered around her family, church, friends, and the arts. As a member of St. Paul's, she was a willing volunteer in many groups and projects, including the Altar Guild, E.C.W., St. Nicholas Guild, and office volunteer. Her passion for art led her to spend many fulfilling hours creating beautiful watercolor paintings. She also greatly enjoyed playing bridge, dancing, and was a constant reader. Her last years were spent in residence at Town Center I of the Fountains at Canterbury, where her greatest pleasure was not having to worry about what to fix for dinner. She is survived by her husband, Richard H. Gilliland, and her children Diane L. Parker, Terry D. Gilliland, James S. (Buck) Gilliland all of Oklahoma City and Mary Ann Johnson of El Reno, OK; also seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, her sister, Judy Higginbotham of Houston TX, and a brother-in-law Robert E. Gilliland of Seattle, WA. Her memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, N.W. 7th & Robinson, on Thursday, February 6 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made in her memory to the St. Paul' S Cathedral Rebuilding Fund, 127 N.W. 7th, Oklahoma City OK 73102. Published in the Oklahoman from 2/5/2003 - 2/6/2003. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Custer County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/custer/custer.htm