Virden Thornton

Virden James Thornton, 79 years old, went home to his loving Heavenly Father on June 20, 2022. He was blessed to pass in his home (all because of his wife, Carolyn’s, constant care) in St. George, UT surrounded by his loved ones and his “ef-alant” collection.

Virden was born on September 22, 1942 in Salt Lake City, UT to the late Jewell Stewart Allen and Carlos James Thornton. He was raised in Utah with his siblings (Dean, Karla and Gaylen) and attended public schools there, eventually graduating with a degree in Speech and Political Science from the University of Utah.

He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and later served as a missionary from 1962 to 1964 in London, England.

He married Barbara Louise Bult on August 26, 1965. Together they had an incredible posterity of ten children, 23 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren (with one on the way). He was preceded in death by their youngest daughter, Kimberly Kay and grandson Daniel Cappel. Barbara and Virden divorced in 2012.

Virden worked in various Sales and Marketing positions throughout his life before starting his own company in 1983, The $elling Edge. During this period, he authored over 20 sales books (2 of them becoming Best Sellers).

On May 10, 2014, Virden married Carolyn Orser, and added even more to his family with the addition of Carolyn’s sons, Bryan Herring and Christopher McMasters, their wives and 6 more grandsons.

Virden was a diehard Indians Baseball fan (he could never call them the Guardians). He loved baseball hats (his helmets) and his fancy socks. He loved his elephant collection (started by his daughter, Tara). He loved his book collection and arranged them beautifully on shelves with all the treasures he’d collected from his travels. He loved his sister, Karla, and enjoyed spending the last 8 years living close to her. His grandchildren loved playing Rummikubs with their “Pop Pop”, even though he would always say they cheated when he lost. He loved his Saturday morning tradition of going out to breakfast with Carolyn and would always leave a kind word and tip of $2 bills for the waitress. He loved writing his books and even wrote 3 novels after he retired.

His doctors say he passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s, but we think his left feenie broke and his nurn stopped working. He always said you couldn’t live without a nurn.

Virden is preceded in death by both his parents, Jewell and Carlos Thornton, his two brothers, Dean and Gaylen Thornton, his daughter Kimberly Kay, and grandson Daniel Cappel. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Thornton, his sister, Karla Thornton, his children Chalyse Cappel (Jeff), Trevor Thornton (Lynette), Krista Schmitz (T.J.), Travis Thornton (Diana), Tara Farmer (Steven), Tamara Zappe (Jon), Lisa Doles (John), Trent Thornton (Kate) and Aimee White (Tyler).