Roscoe Washington Thornhill

Roscoe Washington Thornhill, 88, of Dasher, Georgia, and formerly of Davenport, Florida, died at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia on Sunday, January 28, 2007. Born September 27, 1918 in Eagle Lake, Florida, he was the youngest of 11 children born to Lucius and Missouri Thornhill. Roscoe graduated from Eagle Lake High School , 2nd floor, eighth grade. He was stationed in Africa and Italy during WWII from 1941 to 1945. While in service, he received various awards and medals, including the Bronze Star and his most treasured “Gold Brick.” After Roscoe returned from the war, he met and married Helen Louise Sage on December 22, 1946. He started his career working as a policeman for the Bartow Police Department, and was later appointed as the Chief of Police. His next career move was to work for the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, and he finished his career as Head of Security at the Winter Haven Hospital. He was a member of the VFW, Post 4289 Winter Haven, Florida, the American Legion Post 0003, Bartow, Florida, and he was a Mason, Lodge 186, Winter Haven, Florida. Roscoe was a faithful member of the Haines City Church of Christ and attended Airport Church of Christ in Valdosta, Georgia. Roscoe spent his life being a son, brother, uncle, horseman, delivery boy, cowboy, hunter, butcher, animal doctorer, soldier, husband, son-in-law, father, policeman, Chief of Police, Deputy Sheriff, book reader, Christian, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, great person and great friend.

Survivors are his sons, Jim and Tim Thornhill, daughters in law, Jeanne and Lea all of Dasher, Georgia; grandchildren, Kathryn, Rachel, Amanda, Ben, Lydia and Emily all of Valdosta, Rebecca of Sandersville, Georgia, and Noah of Auburn, Alabama; two great grandchildren, Ryan and Kelby.

Services for Mr. Thornhill are scheduled for Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, Florida with burial at Glover Cemetery in Auburndale, Florida. Mr. Sam Conley will officiate. The family will receive friends at Oak Ridge Funeral Care on Tuesday evening from 5 – 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Florida School of Preaching, 1807 S. Florida Avenue, Lakeland, Florida 33803, or to Christian Home and Bible School 301 W. 13th Avenue, Mt. Dora, Florida 32757. Carson McLane Funeral is serving the family in Valdosta. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602