Wallie A. Thornburg, 89, died on May 23, 2024, at Rhode Island Suites, Ransom, Kansas.  He was born on April 24, 1935, on the Thornburg farm in the old rock house, the son of Francis and Bertha (Daniels) Thornburg. Later the family moved ½ mile west where he and his brother, Roy, helped with the farming, raising and showing cattle.  They had registered Angus Cattle which Wallie showed at the Ness County Fair and the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

Wallie attended first through eighth grade at the Smokey Vale Country School in Gove County.  His high school days were at Utica High School where he graduated in 1953.

On June 16, 1957, he married Coralee DeWald in Bazine at the Bazine Methodist Church.  They had been married for 67 years.

Wallie had the opportunity to start Thornburg Trucking and hauled cattle and grain throughout Ness, Gove, and Trego Counties.  He also farmed and raised Black Angus Cattle.

The Ness County Fair Association honored Wallie for 53 years of service  from 1953 – 2007.  He also served as president of the Kansas State Fair Board.

One thing that Wallie really enjoyed was driving the stagecoach for Wagons Ho, Trail Ride.  With his horses, he went on many trail rides, parades, bringing in Santa for Utica Santa Day, driving the buggy for weddings and wagons for funerals.  He enjoyed meeting people.  In 2014 Wallie and Coralee were the Grand Marshalls for Utica May Day Parade.

Wallie is survived by his wife, Coralee; daughter, Darla Windholz and her husband, Roger, of Holdrege, Nebraska and their daughter, Mattie Windholz of Lincoln, Nebraska; son, Allen and his wife, Julia, of Scott City, and their daughters, Kaitlyn Mitchell and her husband, Brent, of Lenexa and Megan Stiverson and her husband, Jordan, of Prairie Village.

Wallie was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Bertha and his brother, Roy Thornburg and his wife, Ailene.

Viewing will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Friday, May 31, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, 10:30 a.m. at the Utica Methodist Church, Utica, followed by burial at the Utica Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Utica Methodist Church, Ness County Fair Association, or Rhode Island Suites.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.