David “Ross” Thornton (80) passed away October 18, 2021; after a long battle with diabetes, Ross was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1940, moved to Houston in 1950, and later to Illinois, where he graduated from high school in Park Ridge in 1958.
Ross attended school for radio broadcasting in Chicago and was hired for his first job as a disc jockey in Douglas, Arizona. In 1964, he moved to Madera and took a job with K-HOT Radio. He stayed on the air in Madera until the radio station was sold to a new owner in 1974. His next adventure was in medical supply sales. He then changed careers again after marrying his second wife, Barbara Sordi-Gleason, in 1988. He started selling insurance for Foster and Parker Insurance Agency, where he worked for 26 years before retiring in 2013.
He appeared regularly on the PBS Channel 18, often conducting pledge breaks and TV Auctions. But that was only a part of Ross’s half a century of community service. This is just a partial list of his sacrificial efforts to make life better in Madera include:
- Madera City Planning Commission
- Madera County Planning Commission
- Camarena Health Board of Directors
- Madera Community Hospital Foundation Board
- Madera Rescue Mission Board member
- Sunrise Rotary Club — perfect attendance for 30 years and served one year as president.
- Make-A-Wish Foundation — several terms as president.
- Channel 18 PBS
- Vice President of Valley West Christian Center’s Board of Directors
- President of Sherman Thomas Charter Schools’ Board of Directors.
- Member Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Committee.
- Madera District Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Ross was preceded in death by his parents David and Alberta Thornton, stepdaughter Julie McCulley. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara, sons Steven, Jeff, and Brian Thornton. And two grandchildren, Ashley Thornton and Joshua Thornton.
A memorial service will be held on November 22 at 3 pm. The location will be Valley West Christian Church at 101 West Adell Street in Madera. Following the services, a time for friends and family to gather will be provided with refreshments.
