Betty Lou (Thorne) Burton

Betty Lou Thorne Burton, 88, of Columbia, KY died Friday, January 1, 2021 at Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville, KY.  Born in Sullivan, IN she was the daughter of the late Palmer Evert Thorne, who died at an early age of 44 in Shelburn, IN and Lois Marie Railsback Thorne, who died at the age of 67 in Columbia, KY.

Betty Lou was the wife and friend to her dearly departed husband Jr. Burton of Burton Ridge, KY.  She had a wicked sense of humor and strong willed opinions.  She assisted her husband on the family farm while working full time at the County Clerk’s Office from 1950 to 1967.  She then went to work for Lindsey Wilson College in administration while attending college classes.  She later attended Campbellsville College to obtain her teaching credentials and began teaching special needs children in Adair County.  Later she attended Western Kentucky University to obtain her Master’s Degree.  She retired from teaching in 2000.

She enjoyed her friends especially, Mable Ruth Bryant who called her every day without fail and Tony Burton a helpful neighbor who visited her weekly to make her life a little easier. She attended the Beulah Chapel Church for over 60 years and most recently attended the Columbia Church of Christ.

She realized one of her dreams by buying a house in Columbia close to Lindsey Wilson College.  She had been a resident of an assisted living facility in Campbellsville, Bluegrass Way for the past year before a short illness.

Survivors include her children Patrick Curry and Cathy Curry Birlew (Nick) both of Stockton, CA.  In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by a half-brother Richard Eugene Thorne; a nephew Doyne Eugene Thorne and a niece Elsie Ann Thorne Brunhocber.

Funeral services will be 1:00pm Thursday, January 7, 2021 at the Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home with burial in the Haven Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be on Thursday after 11:00am at the Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home.

For the health and respect of the family, please follow all rules for social distancing and everyone attending will be required to wear a mask or face covering.

At the family’s request the funeral service will be live streamed on Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home Facebook Page for those not able to attend.

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