Anna Belle Austin Wilcher Thornton, 77, of Natural Bridge Station, Virginia, died Sunday, September 11, 2011.

Born August 11, 1934 in Rockbridge County, she was a daughter of the late Charles "Jimbo" Austin and Leona Gertrude Lacks Austin.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George William Thornton; first husband, Jessie D. Wilcher; a son, James E. Wilcher; a brother, William Austin; and a sister, Corine Grant.

Surviving are two sons, David D. Wilcher and wife, Dreamer and Johnny K. Wilcher and girlfriend, Angela Perry, all of Natural Bridge Station; a daughter, Nancy Pelter and boyfriend, Lester Conner of Glasgow; daughter-in-law, Marsha Wilcher of Natural Bridge Station; two nephews, Donnie and Michael Grant; seven grandchildren and one step grandchild; eleven great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at Arnolds Valley Southern Baptist Church with Rev. Sheldon Sorrels and Rev. Donald Stine officiating. Burial will follow in Rockbridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA.