ADELINE THORNAL MEREDITH, went to God's
Kingdom on Feb. 21, 2025 at the age of 95, with
burial at West End Cemetery in Stephenville, TX.
Adeline was born April 4, 1929 in Lampasas, TX to
Roye Richard & Eva Bilton Thornal. Adeline attended
Unity Primary and Lampasas High schools where she
met her future husband, Gilbert Meredith. They first
teamed-up during their high school senior year when
Gilbert was football captain and she was school
favorite & football sweetheart. They briefly parted
when Gilbert attended Sam Houston University and she
attended John Tarleton Jr. College. She transferred
to Southwest Texas State Teachers College San Marcos,
graduating in 1950. They married in 1949 at the historic
School Creek Baptist Church in Lampasas County, where
she and Gilbert were also baptized.
The couple lived in Sanderson, Mertzon, Breckenridge,
and Eastland County, where Gilbert was employed with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Adeline taught
and served as principal in Texas public schools for
30 years, retiring in 1978 from Ranger. During her
tenure as teacher, she taught all grades, 1-12,
spending the last 20 years in first grade, which
she felt was the most rewarding and challenging age.
She maintained contact with numerous students and
considered them among her lifelong friends. Throughout
life, Adeline enjoyed entertaining & Gilbert was expert
at BBQ and fish frying. The team again complimented
each other when they entertained friends in their home
and at their beloved Dead Broke Ranch in Eastland County.
They treasured many close friendships established through
First Baptist Church. They extensively traveled in Europe
and Scandinavia making friends all over the world. In
1993, the Merediths moved to Stephenville.
Adeline was confined to her home in later years and
cherished regular visits from Paradigm/Tarleton students.
She felt blessed and honored that they included her in
their busy schedules. Students held a special place in
her heart, and their friendships gave her much joy. She
was proud to have a sweet namesake, Adeline Grace Watter
(daughter of Kyle & Hailey Thompson Watter), who delighted
her throughout her final days. The family is thankful to
her faithful friends, to the Stephenville Masonic Lodge
for remembering Adeline as Gilbert's widow, and the Order
of Eastern Star for their support through-out the years.
At each stage of life, the consistent theme in Gilbert
and Adeline's 64 year marriage was to honor God and enjoy
their friendships. Church life and Christian friendships
played a large role in their happy marriage. Adeline was
the consummate southern lady who enjoyed homemaking, proper
etiquette, and antiquing at every opportunity. She uncon-
ditionally loved her family. She was president of Music
Club and Garden Club in Eastland County. She was faithful
to the Order of Eastern Star, becoming District Deputy
Grand Matron in 1986. Gilbert was a 32nd Degree Mason.
She was a woman of deep Christian belief and substance
and will be missed. She lives on in Heaven and in the
hearts of generations of students and friends.
Family members include: Alexa Meredith, her only
child and Adeline's caregiver; special honorary son
& daughter Curt & Pam Voss & their children Grant,
Rachel, & Sarah Voss; granddaughters-Eva Richardson
Naughton of Dover, NH (Ryan); Jessica Richardson
Prescott of Bryant, AL (Arthur); great-grandchildren
-Ariel, Aurora, & Sylas; cousin-Gladys Thornal Owen
(Bill), Sandra Owen West (Mike), Bryan West, Pat Owen
Schaub (Randy), Will Schaub (Rebekah), Matt Schaub;
brother-Bill Thornal (Pat); nieces and nephews?Dr.
Warren Heffington (Donna); Howard Meredith; Audie
Meredith (Karen); Douglas Meredith (Kara); Shelli
Meredith Phillips (JJ); Bruce Thornal (Susan);
Cathy Thornal; Douglas Rider; Brian Thornal; Andy
Nolan; Patti Furr (Steve); Ricky Thornal; Ren e
Thornal Wade; Ronnie Thornal; Danielle Meredith
(LaVaugh), Lonnie Meredith (Cindy), and Leonard
Meredith (Angela), Wayne Boultinghouse (Sherry),
and many other grand-nieces and nephews.
Adeline was preceded in death by her husband,
Gilbert Meredith; her parents-Roye and Eva
Thornal; siblings-Roye Gayle (Jean) Thornal;
Frances Nolan (Jack); in-laws-James & Lucille
Jackson Meredith; brothers-in-laws?Lofton
Meredith (Velma Stewart), Howard Meredith
(Manna Ruth Fry); sister-in-law-Elsie Meredith
Heffington (Malcolm); niece-Anne Thornal and
Juanita Meredith Craft.