Barbara Louise Thornton, 76 years old, returned to her Heavenly Father on November 7, 2018 at Life Care Center of Salt Lake City, Utah. She was surrounded by her family, and left peacefully in her sleep.

Barbara was born on October 4, 1942 in Salt Lake City, to the late Mary Lou Gunn and Keith Joseph Bult. She was the oldest of ten children. She was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on November 1, 1950 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and remained a faithful, devoted member her entire life. She graduated from Highland High School in 1960, and the University of Utah in 1964, with a BA Degree in Education. She taught in schools off and on for over 35 years.

Barbara married Virden James Thornton on August 26, 1965. Together they had ten children. They divorced in 2012. She was preceded in death by her youngest daughter Kimberly Kay, her grandson Daniel Cappel, and both of her parents.

Barbara loved to serve others. She loved to crochet beautiful afghans for new grand babies, baptisms, and weddings of her loved ones. She never forgot to send a handmade birthday card to everyone she knew. She also enjoyed documenting her scripture studies, journaling,and gardening. She recently volunteered her time at the Payson Temple.

Her beautiful life that she built will be forever cherished in the lives of her children: Chalyse(Jeff) Cappel of GA, Trevor (Lynette) Thornton of UT, Krista (T.J.) Schmitz of UT, Travis (Diana) Thornton of WA, Tara Fairchild of OH, Tamara (Jon) Zappe of UT, Lisa (John) Doles of VA, Trent Thornton of OH, and Aimee (Tyler) White of UT. She has 23 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

She told us all to go build our beautiful, and we know she will be “fine.”

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 12th from 11-12 a.m. at the LDS Meetinghouse located at 575 West 400 North Spanish Fork, Utah. There will be a viewing from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday November 11th, and also a one hour viewing from 10-11a.m. on Monday, before the funeral. The gravesite dedication will be at 3:15pm at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery 1640 E. Lakeview Drive Bountiful, UT 84010.