William "Eddie" Thornton

Dateline: Monroe, NC William Edward “Eddie” Thornton, Jr. Mr. Thornton went home to be with the Lord on March 21, 2008 at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Thornton was born August 17, 1936 in Danville, VA. He was the son of the late William E. Thornton, Sr. and Claudine Thornton Prewett. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He entered the Air Force in 1954 and became a Radar Technician. He served a term in Korea and was discharged in 1958 as a Staff Sergeant. He was employed by GTE, which is now Verizon for 27 years, with his last eight years being District Manager of Union County. He served on the Board of Directors for Union County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors and President for Luncheon Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow, Vice-President and Director of Union County Arts Council, Chairman of Union County Economic Development Commission, and Four Year Trustee of Anson Community College. He and his wife, Lois came to know Jesus on Father’s Day, 1961 and shortly after had desires to go to the mission field which did not materialize. Later on in his life, he was able to fulfill that commitment doing mission work in Russia, Belarus, Honduras, and China. He enjoyed teaching his Sunday School Class at West Monroe Baptist Church and was active at other times in other church committees. Mr. Thornton is survived by his loving wife of forty-seven years, Lois; sons William E. Thornton, III of Durham and Sterling Thornton and wife Cindy, of Watkinsville, GA; daughter Jennifer T. Hill and husband Phil of Monroe. In addition, he is survived by six grandchildren, April Thornton, Jamie Thornton, Joshua Thornton and Lindsey Thornton, Justin Hill and Jarred Hill. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Bobby Mathis of Palm Harbor, FL and other loving family members. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM in West Monroe Baptist Church, by Dr. David Hayes and Rev. Bobby Leonard. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 23, 2008 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM at Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe, NC 28112. Burial will be in Lakeland Memorial Park. Memorials can be made to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, Fifth Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851, or the West Monroe Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1212 Icemorlee Street, Monroe, NC 28110. Arrangements for the family are in the care of Gordon Funeral and Cremation Service, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe, NC 28112. An online guest book is available at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Published online on March 21, 2008 courtesy of Gordon Funeral Service, Inc. .