Hilda Freda Thornton, 83, of Whiting, Kansas, passed away Monday, June 22, 2009 at the Horton Community Hospital. She was born on March 22, 1926 at home in Franklin Township near Holton, Kansas. She was the youngest of three children born to Wilhelm & Freda Steinle Schumaker. Hilda grew up in the Sabetha area and moved to the Whiting area when she was around seventeen years old. She graduated from the Whiting High School in 1945. Hilda and her cousin Rose then went to Topeka together to attend Washburn University to get teaching certificates. Hilda first taught in a one room school house south of Whiting at the Parallel School. Then she taught west of Whiting at the Banks School. She was a member of the Whiting United Methodist Church. Hilda enjoyed working in her yard and had a passion for flowers. She was an accomplished seamstress, loved to read the local newspapers and cook for her family. On April 24, 1948 she married Kenneth Dale Thornton in Hiawatha, Kansas. He survives of the home. Other survivors include her son Larry & wife Cindy Thornton of Whiting, Kansas; brother, Fred Schumaker of Whiting, Kansas; four grandchildren, Rebekah Savage & husband Chet of Murphysboro, Illinois, Brett Oxandale & wife Jenny of Topeka, Kansas, Adam Thornton & wife Erin of Wamego, Kansas and Brent Oxandale & wife Stephanie of Olathe, Kansas; five great grandchildren, Bailey, Kendall, Brady & Reece Thornton and Keith Savage. She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Cindy Kay Oxandale on May 1, 1993 and a brother, Willie Schumaker. Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton, Kansas where the family will greet friends on Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 P.M. Burial will be at the Springhill Cemetery, Whiting, Kansas. Memorials may be sent to the Whiting United Methodist Church in care of the mortuary. A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com