I cloned this from my grandmothers computer HD when she passed in 2002. Her madian name was Doris Wade Register. I did not edit this in anyway except to remove the names of living familey members. My grandfather was a special man to me. May he rest in peace and forever be remembered for his sacrifices and determination.

G. Jason Hathaway

Handy was 75 years old on June 3,1993. For his birthday, I wrote his history. I am putting it in the computer May 23.1998

SAKES=ALIVE HANDY IS SEVENTY FIVE

THANK GOD HE SURVIVED

MAY HE LIVE TO BE ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE

HANDY W. THORNTON [THE SURVIVER] THIS IS YOUR LIFE.

Handy entered into this world June 5,1918, the third son of W.F. and Donie Thornton. He grew up on a farm, where he learned that hard work was the way of life.

His early education was at Turkey Elementary and Turkey High School. However he droped out of high school before graduation to help support the family. Times were tough back then, but he survived the great depression of the 1930's

He was drafted into the army in 1942. After basic training he went to Ft. Knok, Ky. and was in the group that formed the 1st Armored Division. He went to Europe on the Queen Mary and served in Italy and North Africa. He survived World War 2. He came home and was honorabled discharged in 1945.

He went to work with Carolina Power Light Co as a Lineman in 1945.

In 1947 he married his childhood sweatheart , Mable Phillips. They were happily married for 18 years, untill her untimely death in Jan of 1963.

Later that same year he meet Doris R. Hathaway, a widow with three children. He took on a big responsibilitty when they were married October 5, 1963 and he instantly became father to 3 children. He did not marry an individual, he married a family.

In 1967 he went back to school and recieved a G.E.D. certificate from Sampson Community College.

June 3, 1980 he retired from C.P.L. with 35 years of hard work behind. He had many dangerous experiences through the years, but he survived.

He did not stop working, even though he was not on a payroll,. He found plenty to keep busy at home, with his favorite hobbies, working in the yard, camping, playing with contest and sweepstakes. Many people think that because he does not fish, play golf, hunt, etc. that his life is dull. They do not know him like I do. He has a rich and rewarding life, filled with doing things for others, working in the church, Masonic Order, delivering Meals on Wheels and many other good deeds for family and friends, plus keeping the yard in order and helping me when ever he can. He meant a lot to my parents and helped them much in their last years of failing health.

In 1985, during a routine physical examination, Dr. Henry Carr found a spot on one lung. It was disgnosed as cancer. The Dr. at Duke who made the the second opinion agreed with Dr. Car. He said it was caused by years of smoking, Handy's only real bad habit. He was advised to quit smoking, and to show you how strong he is, he never smoked another cigarette since. With GOD's help and his own will power he was able to kick the habit. Dr. Wolf a surgeon at Duke removed part of his lung. He survived cancer.

Ten months later, For several weeks he complained with chest pains. We do not always listen to what our body is telling us, and we often take chances with our life. He would not go to the hopsital in atlanta, but chose to wait untill we got home to see Dr. Carr. He drove home the followering day and immediately went to the emergency room. He was admitted to Sampson County Hospital, only to be carried on an ambul;ance the next day to Duke Hospital. The same Dr Wolf performed two by=passes on him. He surived open heart surgery. I really felt bad and quilty, when a friend who is a nurse told me how danmgerous it was for him to be on the road driving under those circumstances. I should not have allowed it. There again the LORD was with us.

He fights Diabetes and has been fighting it for many years. It is hard for him to stay on the diet that the Dr. and his Diabetic Counselor wants him on, but he is strong in nature and has the will to make it. With GOD's help he is surviving diabetes/

Feb.1991,he went back to work, part time with Waste Industries, maning the recycling site in Clinton. He only has two more weeks to work on that job, because they are closing the site. We do not care if he is not working, C.P.L.will look after us and it will give him time to devote to other things.

He survived the Great Depression, World War 2, Two marriages, being father to a ready made family, dangerous work with electricity, much traveling on the road pulling, campers, driving motor homes, driving with an Angina Heart, Cancer, Open Heart Surgery, Diabetes. Don't you agree with me he deserves the title Handy thre Survivor? June 6th, we will go to Duke Hospital to be a part of the celebration of life for Cancer Survuivors. I thank GOD, he survived and for what he has meant to me and my family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDY, I LOVE YOU, DORIS

Handys' birthcertificate is recorded on page 1064,certificate no. 19 N. C. State board of health Bureau of Vital Statistics

Handy W Thornton