Louise Love Thornton

Louise Love (nee Chaney) Thornton died at Howard County Hospital early on the 7th of March at age 87, a few weeks shy of her 88th birthday on March 21st. Louise was born in 1937 in Laurel, Maryland; at age four, she came down with Polio and was at Children’s Hospital in Baltimore for two years. She and her family moved to Savage in 1945. Louise graduated from Howard High School in 1955. On October 6th, 1956, she married her husband Dennis Thornton, and after four years in England and two years in Colorado Springs, she and her husband settled down in Savage, Maryland.

She had three boys, Joel, Mark and Paul and they in turn had a total of six children and of them, five great grandchildren.

Louise was very active in community affairs, mainly the Carroll Baldwin Hall, where she served as president at one time. She was recognized for her leadership with the Learning Disabilities Association of Howard County.

She and her husband were married at St. John Lutheran Church on Waterloo Road in Ellicott City and they were members there for more than 50 years; additionally, Louise and Dennis have served on the Howard County Young Life Committee for nearly 50 years.

Louise is also a descendant of the Mathews and Williams families, who date back to the early 1900’s in Savage. The Mathews date back to the revolutionary war, and settled in the Front Royal/ Thomson Hollow, Virginia area. When their land was taken for the new Skyline Park Drive, they came to Savage to work in the mill.

Relatives and friends may visit at the Donaldson Funeral Home, P.A. on Thursday, March 13th from 4-7pm, with a funeral service being held the following day on Friday, March 14th at 11am in the Chapel at Donaldson Funeral Home, P.A. Interment to follow at Savage Cemetery in Savage, Maryland.