Charles Hill Thornal

Charles Hill Thornal, 91, of Woodway, passed away, Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 8 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, followed by the funeral service at 11:30 a.m., in the funeral home chapel.

He was born June 2, 1935, in China Spring. Charles loved life, loved his family, loved people and believed he had been placed on Earth to make people smile. He was energetic, resourceful, deeply involved in his community and rarely limited himself to one pursuit at a time.

Charles often described himself as a “Jack of all trades, master of none,” but over the course of his life he became a teacher, administrator, grant writer, businessman, musician, choir director, fundraiser, coach, landlord, public-address announcer, master of ceremonies, writer and community volunteer.

His Christian faith was central to his life. His favorite Bible verse was Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Charles liked to say that he was not “gone,” but simply “gone ahead.”

Charles attended Waco schools for 12 years and graduated from Waco High School in 1953. He attended Baylor University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1957 and later a Master of Science in Education. He also completed postgraduate work toward an Ed.D.

Charles served for 12 years in the Texas National Guard and served as an instructor to Army officers. He also represented the Texas National Guard by carrying the Texas flag during the inauguration of Gov. John Connally.

He later joked that he retired from the Guard when parachute jumping became mandatory — “good timing,” as he put it.

Charles spent approximately 40 years with the Waco Independent School District.

He began his career as a trigonometry teacher at University High School and later served as an administrator at West Junior High School and in Waco ISD’s central administration.

During his career, he served as director of federal programs, worked with Waco’s Model Cities program, served as a grant writer for public and private schools throughout Central Texas and worked as administrative assistant to six Waco ISD superintendents. He became Waco ISD’s first director of public relations.

Charles also served as vice president of the Texas School Public Relations Association and was a co-founder of the Texas Compensatory Education Association.

His work in education and community development included major grant-writing efforts, including funding connected with Waco’s Model Cities program and the transformation of the former Carver High School into a community center serving East Waco.

His work with Waco’s Model Cities program received national recognition during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Charles also spent much of his life in business.

For approximately 50 years, he worked as an automobile broker alongside his longtime friend Robert Johnson through Johnson and Thornal Cars.

He bought, renovated, rented and sold real estate and enjoyed fixing up both houses and automobiles.

For 25 years, Charles created and operated the A+ Card fundraiser, which raised money for schools and churches throughout Central Texas. Participating schools collectively received approximately $100,000 each year through the program.

His fundraising work also benefited organizations and causes including the City Council of PTA Scholarship Fund, the Waco Boys Club, Baylor-Waco Foundation, Western Heights Baptist Church Building Fund, Lake Air Little League Baseball and the McLennan County Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund.

Charles also wrote the article “How to Say ‘Hello’ to the Media Without Being Misquoted.”

Charles served for more than 30 years as music director at Emmanuel Baptist Church and Western Heights Baptist Church, where he also served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.

Music was one of the great loves of his life. Although Charles called himself a “home-grown musician,” music surrounded him from childhood. His mother was a church organist, pianist and piano teacher.

Charles learned much of his music theory through junior high and high school bands and as a member of Baylor University’s Golden Wave Band.

He helped organize extensive church music programs that included preschool, children’s, youth, young adult, senior adult, sanctuary and handbell choirs.

Charles also created Gospel Music Celebration concerts that traveled to churches throughout Central Texas.

Charles loved music, real estate, automobiles, sports, writing and community service. He sang at weddings and funerals and frequently served as master of ceremonies for school, church and civic events.

For approximately 25 years, he was a public-address announcer for Waco ISD football games.

He was a member of the Waco Founder Lions Club and served as the club’s Tail Twister.

He served on the boards of numerous community organizations, including the Boys Club, United Way, Whitehall Cemetery Association, Baylor-Waco Foundation and Lions Club.

Charles coached both of his children in Little League baseball, football and basketball.

Earlier in life, he tried his hand at raising Appaloosa horses after purchasing a horse once owned by Gov. John Connally. By Charles’ own assessment, that particular business venture lost money.

Charles was also a writer and wrote more than 200 poems, most of them for family members and friends.

Music remained his first love throughout his life, and serving others — through education, church, fundraising, coaching and civic involvement — was a constant thread through everything he did.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. James Augustus Thornal and Fannie Thornal, and his brother, the Rev. James Royce Thornal, who died Jan. 9, 2021.

Charles is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy (Maxwell) Thornal.

He is also survived by his son, Keith, and his family: Sandi, Krissi Hornung and Adam, and Todd and Fallon Thornal; and by his daughter, Kaylyn Thornal, and her family: Natasha, Ty and Marlowe; additionally, he is survived by his great-grandchildren, Henry, Jack and Charlotte Hornung, and Kruse and Klarie Thornal.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Youth Chorus of Central Texas at www.youthchorusofcentraltexas.org.

The Youth Chorus of Central Texas gives young singers the opportunity to experience the joy of choral music, whether they do not have access to a choir elsewhere or simply want an additional place to sing, learn and grow.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Charles in his “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.