Thornton Whaling Westbrook, 91, died Thursday, September 29, 2011, at the United Retirement Center in Brookings. A Service of Remembrance will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 15, 2011, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings with the Rev. Teri Johnson of the First United Methodist Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Retirement Center, 405 First Avenue, Brookings, SD 57006, or the Community Life Center at the First United Methodist Church, 625 Fifth Street, Brookings, SD 57006. Thornton Westbrook was born June 20, 1920, to Frederick and Mamie (Whaling) Westbrook in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He enlisted in the Army in 1940. He served in the Army Air Corps, where he became the youngest Sergeant-Major in the Army. He also attended OCS and was commissioned as a lieutenant. On January 4, 1945, he married Maureen Christensen, from White, South Dakota. After World War II they made their permanent home in Brookings. In 1952 Thornton joined the newly formed transportation battalion of the South Dakota National Guard from which he retired in 1978. His total military service was 39 years. Thornton was a member of the Elks Club, American Legion and the National Guard Association of South Dakota and the USA. He enjoyed golfing as a member of Brookings Country Club, of which he was a past president. He was an avid duplicate bridge player and served as president of the South Dakota ACBL. He also enjoyed sports and traveling. He and Maureen traveled the United States extensively after his retirement and spent their winters in Florida. Survivors include his wife, Maureen; his children, Anne of Brookings, Mary of Iowa City, Iowa, Nancy (David Ayers) of Des Moines, Iowa, and James (Susie) of Destin, Florida; three grandchildren, Emily (Brandon Willcox) of St. Paul, Minnesota, Julie (Nick Johnson) of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Eric Westbrook of Destin, Florida; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father, and two brothers.