Cecil Thornsberry

Cecil Thornsberry, age 76, of Andrews, IN, passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Lutheran Hospital Fort Wayne, IN.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

Cecil was born on October 18, 1948, at the foot of Abner Mountain in Kentucky to Lawrence and Ora Thornsberry. Cecil was proud of his roots and never forgot where he came from.  Though he made his home in Indiana, his heart never left the hills of Kentucky.

On September 21, 1968, Cecil married the love of his life Geraldine Slone, whom he affectionately called “Geral” or “Red”. Together, they built an enduring and devoted love centered around their faith and family.

After graduating from Wheelwright High School in 1969, Cecil and Geraldine moved to Indiana, where he began a 35-year career with General Electric.  After retirement, Cecil continued serving others through his work at Pathfinder Services until fully retiring in 2010.

He was a proud and involved father to his children and those he cherished like his children, Jeremy (Alysia) Thornsberry, Andrews, IN. and Amy Thornsberry, Andrews, IN; daughter-in-law Amiee Thornsberry, Huntington, IN and his niece Terresa.  The bond he shared with each of them was deep and lasting. 

He was “Papa” to eleven grandchildren, Jaimee Mathews, Jessica (Matt) Beal, Scott (Melanie) Thornsberry, Jenna Thornsberry, Jarrica Thornsberry, Trista Thornsberry, Jacob Thornsberry, Abram Thornsberry, James Burton, Justine Burton and Joslyn Roberts; sixteen great grandchildren with number seventeen arriving in June.

Also survived by brothers, Lawrence (Angie) Thornsberry Jr, Saint Mary, OH, Danny (Ronita) Thornsberry, Richmond, KY, and Ricky (Renee) Thornsberry, Martin, KY; sisters, Zella (Bill) Hall, Topmost, KY, and Anna Marie (Alan) Tackett, Ashtabula, OH and many nieces and nephews and cherished friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Theodore, and Isador Thornsberry; his beloved son Craig Thornsberry and his precious granddaughter Jenna Ann Thornsberry.

Cecil’s faith was his foundation.  As a member of Bethesda Freewill Baptist Church, he lived his beliefs humbly and consistently, embodying the love of Christ in both word and action.  He led by example, always ready with a helping hand, a heartfelt prayer, or a kind word.  Walking by faith is his legacy that will live on through generations.

To know Cecil was to know warmth, humor, and deep love.  He was the heart of his family, the steady presence at every ball game, family cookout or “chili night” by the fire.  Whether tending his garden in the summer, or completing puzzles in the winter, he found joy in the simple things and shared them freely.  Except for that last piece of the puzzle, which he would hold on to in secret, so that he would be the one to finish it.

As we mourn Cecil’s passing, we also celebrate the glorious homecoming he has received, where the last piece of the puzzle is finally in place.  His was a life well-lived, a race well- run, and a faith well-kept.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  2 Timothy 4:7

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Bethesda Freewill Baptist Church,116 S. Main St. Andrews, IN  46702.

An additional hour of calling will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, with services following at 11:00 am, at Bethesda Freewill Baptist Church, 116 S. Main St. Andrews, IN  46702 with Pastors Matt Snodderly and Lou Hunt officiating.

The burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Andrews, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Bethesda Freewill Baptist Church or Pathfinder Services, both in care of McElhaney Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, IN, 46750.

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