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Josephine Helen (Thornton) Cain

Josephine Helen (Thornton) Cain

Josephine Helen (Thornton) Cain, 92, passed away on September 20, 2017, at the Country Meadows Assisted Living Home in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. She called Parkersburg home for over 50 years.

Josephine was born on September 8, 1925, in Castella, Calif., to Foster Duncan Thornton and Rufugio (Shine) Samaniego. After growing up in Klamath Falls, Oregon, she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she met her husband, Frank Monroe Cain. They wed in 1952 and spent most of their 58 years together in Parkersburg. Josephine was a bookkeeper for the Boy Scouts of America and was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was a long-time member of P.E.O., a philanthropic organization that is committed to helping women pursue higher education. In addition to being a devoted mother, wife and friend, Josephine enjoyed reading, sewing, traveling, and sailing. After retiring, she and her husband spent over two years sailing the high seas on their 36-foot two masted ketch, the Josefina. They sailed from Miami to Venezuela and back, with many stops along the way, including the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and the Bahamas. Other sailing adventures included Cuba and New Zealand.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Monroe Cain; her sister, Geraldine (Thornton) Conn; her brother, Luther Louis (Mickey) Thornton; and her oldest granddaughter, Erica Renee Cain.

Josephine is survived by one daughter, Leslie Cain Rymer of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and three sons, David (Helen) Cain of San Antonio, Texas, Reid Cain of Carnation, Washington, and Frank (Alice) Cain of Annapolis, Maryland; and four brothers, Foster Leonard Thornton of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Thomas Leon (Lee) Thornton of Sweet Home, Oregon, James Washington Thornton of Richland, Washington, and Robert Donald Thornton of Vancouver, Washington; seven grandchildren, Corey (Barbara) Rymer, Christopher Rymer, Elena Rymer, Nicholas Cain, Marissa Cain, Sean Cain, Lucas Cain; and one great grandchild, Liam Rymer.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Michael Seeley officiating. Burial will be at the Mount Olivet Cemetery, followed by a reception at the First Presbyterian Church (Harris Room).

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.leavitt.funeralhome.com

Memorial donations in her memory may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org