Gary E. Thornburg, 74, of Schulenburg, passed away on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Citizens Medical Center in Victoria.
Gary was born in Anderson, Indiana, on Dec. 30, 1946, the son of Gilbert and Betty (Hamilton) Thornburg. Gary was a wonderful husband, a loving father and a generous grandfather. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1967 and was stationed in Italy as a dental technician. Gary met his wife, Sheila, after his return to the U.S. and they were married in 1969. They put down roots in Primera, Texas, outside of Harlingen, where they were surrounded by family, fruit groves and cotton. Gary worked for the Harlingen fire and police departments before moving on to the sheriff’s department. He then became the executive director of the Cameron County Good Government League. In 1985, he moved the family to Austin and worked as a patrol manager for Stanley Smith Security company until starting his own company, Thornburg Investigations.
Throughout his retirement, he worked as a substitute teacher at Schulenburg High School where he connected with students and always had a captive audience.
He is survived by his wife, Sheila Thornburg of Schulenburg; his brothers and sister, Eddie, Rodney, Gregory, Brett and Sylvia (Thornburg) Wilson; his son, Tony; his daughters Shelly and Jenny; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert M. Thornburg and Betty (Hamilton) Thornburg.
Comments and condolences can be made at www.lagrangefunerals.com.