Burton Allen Thornal, 93, of Franklin, NC, passed away January 10, 2011 in Asheville, NC. He was born in Charleston, SC and lived in Florida since the age of five. He graduated from Orlando High School and attended the University of Florida. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Corps after three years of service during WW II.
Thornal was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1948 to 1950; past president of the Orlando Junior Chamber of Commerce; past president of the Florida Junior Chamber of Commerce; past chairman of the Community Chest of Orlando; past state chairman of the Crusade for Freedom; former vice president of the Arcadia Rotary Club; past chairman of the American Cancer Society of Dade County and DeSoto County; former member of the DeSoto County Board of Realtors; past member of the Florida Cattlermen's Association; past member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks; former chairman of the Board of Stewards and Board of Trustees of the Broadway Methodist Church in Orlando; past member of Reubin Askew's Advisory Committee of Orange County; and an honorary life member of Orlando, Miami and Florida Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Thornal was selected as the “Outstanding Young Man of Orange County” and “five Outstanding Young Men of Florida.” He received numerous distinguished service awards from Florida and the U.S. Junior Chambers of Commerce and won the Clayton Frost Award from the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce for outstanding state president in the country.
Thornal was honored as an honorary member as the Kentucky Colonel of the Arkansas Traveler by former President Bill Clinton' an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy; and was presented the key to the city of Birmingham, Ala.
Thornal owned a local insurance agency business for 30 years; was a former vice-president for a large Florida mortgage brokerage firm; was president of Burton Thornal Agency Inc. (general insurance) and Burton Thornal Insurance of Florida, Inc. (school accident insurance); served as state director of the Division of General Regulation, Tallahassee, FL., from 1971 to 1972; was founder and former chairman of the board of First State Bank of Arcadia; and was the owner of Thornal-Hope Realty, Inc. in Arcadia. He retired and moved to Franklin, NC in 1985.
After moving to Franklin, Thornal served as President of the Franklin Gem and Mineral Society. His service was culminated by the society receiving the prestigious award as Macon County's Outstanding Service Club,
Thornal was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary, whom he was married to for 68 years; two brothers, A.W. Thornal and Justice Campbell Thornal and a daughter, Sylvia Thornal. He is survived by his daughter, Marcia O'Steen, and his granddaughter Sierra N. O'Steen, of Franklin, NC; nephews, Andy Thornal and Curtis Lawrence of Winter Haven, FL., Ben Thornal of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Bill Wilson of Houston, Texas; niece Linda Wilson of Washington, DC; and numerous grand nephews, nieces and great-grand nephews.
Thornal was the great-grandson of General John A. Wagoner, who was the former mayor of Charleston, SC and founder of Walhalla, SC.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com

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