Saralu Mills Thornton

Saralu Mills Thornton passed away on December 7, 2016 at the age of 90 years. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on February 5, 1926 to Guy and Ruth Mills. She spent her formative years in Tulsa graduating from Central High School in 1944. She attended the University of Tulsa graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and served as president her senior year. Saralu married Charles Edward Thornton on December 28, 1946 and lived in Tulsa while they finished college and he worked for Gulf Oil Company part-time. Shortly thereafter they were transferred to Seminole, Oklahoma, Hobbs, New Mexico and to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1951 Charlie became President of Reading & Bates Canadian subsidiary. They were later transferred to Denver, Colorado for a short time then back to Tulsa where Charlie helped form Reading & Bates Offshore Drilling Company becoming President and Chief Operating Officer in 1967. Saralu loved people and became active in many civic affairs. She was a member of Tulsa Philharmonic Pacers, Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Opera serving as Gala Ball Chairman one year, Gilcrease Art Museum, Philbrook Art Museum, Ruskin Art Club, Junior League of Tulsa, Tulsa Historical Society, University of Tulsa Alumni Association, Southern Hills Country Club, The Tulsa Club, Thornton Family YMCA named for Charlie�s participation, and her beloved First United Methodist Church which she grew up in. Saralu and Charlie donated the fountain at 10th and Boulder in memory of her parents. While living in Canada and Denver, Saralu and Charlie developed a love for the mountains and built Owlcrest Ranch near Hillside, Colorado where they spent many days with family, friends, business associates and extended their hospitality to several employees. Saralu traveled to many countries all over the world accompanying Charlie on business trips but her favorite places, outside of Tulsa, were Paris, France and the Bahamas. She enjoyed golf, tennis and gardening with their home being on the garden tour one year displaying hundreds of tulips, azaleas and many flowering trees on 26th Place and along Crow Creek. Saralu was preceded in death in 2002 by her husband, Charles Edward Thornton. They had been married for 56 years. She is survived by her daughter and husband Rhonda and Robert S. Boswell of Denver, Colorado, a son Edward Ross Thornton, daughter Charlotte Mae Thornton of Palo Alto, California and grandsons Charles Louis Boswell and wife Amanda of Denver, Colorado, Thomas Edward Thornton of Houston, Texas and granddaughters Mae and husband Atin Mehra of Los Angeles, California and Jeanette and husband Jason Burgett of Denver, Colorado. She has four greatgrandchildren Courtland and Maribelle Boswell of Denver, Kanishka Mehra of Los Angeles, Lauchlyn Burgett of Denver and a sister Nancy Staab of Tulsa along with numerous nephews and nieces. Private family internment will be held December 17, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Park Chapel with a Celebration of Life in January 2017. In memory of Saralu, donations may be made to the Mills Fountain Fund at First United Methodist Church, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Ballet or the University of Tulsa

Saralu Mills Thornton

February 5, 1926 - December 7, 2016