In the late evening of March 23, 2021, Carole Patterson Thorington, 77, of Huntsville, joined the love of her life in the heavenly realms. She was preceded in death by her father, Pat Patterson, her loving mother, Bea Patterson, and her husband and love of her life, John Thorington Jr.
Born on November 23, 1943, in Atlanta, Georgia, Carole grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, and graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1961, where she was a straight-A student and a member of the honor society. She later attended business school in Montgomery and worked as an executive assistant for many years.
Carole was also a loving caretaker of her grandchildren, greatly helping her children while they and their spouses were working full-time outside the home. She also loved her fellowship with the Bridge Club of Latham and Huntsville Garden Club.
She is survived by her brother, James Patterson; her two children, Johnny Thorington and Jennifer Thorington-Hines; daughter-in-law, Lisa Pickens Thorington; son-in-law, Chad Hines; adored grandchildren, Taylor Thorington, Jake Thorington, Mackenzie Thorington-Hines, Kaitlyn Thorington-Hines, and Ava Thorington Hines; nephew, Michael Patterson; niece, Leslie Patterson Dimaggio; and sister-in-law, Betsy Thorington Warner.
Carole met the love of her life, John Thorington Jr., at Lanier, where they dated. They would later marry and move to Las Vegas, where she gave birth to Johnny and worked for the Social Security Administration. They moved to Auburn for John to complete his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, before accepting a job in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he worked for AT&T Bell Labs and Carole worked for Honeywell.
Jennifer was born in Greensboro and Carole decided to focus full-time on being the homemaker and raising the kids. She instilled the value of working hard in school and only counting on what you earn for her children. She will be remembered most for her amazing sense of humor, which she and her brother inherited from their father. John called her "My Funny Valentine" and that was their song. She loved to hold court and tell jokes with her kids and later grandkids. She never met a stranger, who would tell her their whole life story. Almost everyone her kids met knew her to say the exact same thing: "I just love your mom, she is so funny". Her love of laughter and dogs lives on through her kids and grandkids.
We would like to thank the staff at River City Nursing Home in Decatur, Alabama for taking care of Carole for many challenging years. We would also like to thank the staff and HH Hospice Family Care in Huntsville, Alabama. Their grace and the incredible facility there made both Carole and the family as comfortable as possible during the final stage of her life.
During these difficult COVID times, there will be a private service.
If desired, contributions may be made to
Trinity United Methodist Church or
Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care
in loving memory of Carole Patterson Thorington.
Published in The Huntsville Times from March 25 to March 26, 2021.