Freda Thornton Batchelder

Freda Chloe Grant Thornton Batchelder, 71, of Hot Springs, AR, died at 12:15 AM on Thursday, February 5, 2015 in a Lake Charles, LA hospital. Mrs. Batchelder was born August 19, 1943 in Glenwood, AR, where she graduated from Glenwood High School. She lived at Mountain Harbor Resort for a number of years and Hot Springs, AR for several years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs, AR and worked in the banking industry for most of her career. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and following her retirement, she worked at June Bug's Boutique. She loved hearing about her grandchildren's adventures and will always be remembered for her quick witted sense of humor. Mrs. Batchelder is survived by her daughter, Tonja L. Black and companion, Richard "Ric" Fontenot of Lake Charles; son, Jamey Thornton and wife Jill of Ventura, CA; step-daughter, Linda Malmsteadt and husband Alan of Hopkins, MN; brothers, Gerald Grant and wife Cheryl of Kirby, AR and Jimmy Grant of Glenwood, AR; grandchildren, Lyndsay Black of Ogden, UT, Natalie Thornton of Ventura, CA, Katie Black of Denver, CO, and Alex and Ryan Malmsteadt of Hopkins, MN; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and her beloved puppies, Preston and CoCo. She was preceded in death by her first husband, E.J. Thornton; second husband, James "Jim" P. Batchelder; and brother, Harold Ray Grant. Cremation was entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home. Her memorial service will be at a 2:00 PM on Monday, February 16, 2015 at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Kirby, AR.