Richard I. " Dick " Thornton

Richard I. " Dick " Thornton of Taylors, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 13, 2016, after a brave battle with metastatic prostate cancer. He was 82 years old. Dick was born in Monroe, New York, the only child of John Henry and Ada Amelia (Jessup) Thornton. He attended local schools and upon graduation from Monroe High School in 1951, enlisted in the United States Navy. Dick trained as a Communications Technician and during his service was assigned duty in Germany, North Africa and Washington D.C. Upon his Honorable Discharge in 1954 he returned to his hometown and soon began a long career with Highland Telephone Company, now known as Frontier Communications. Dick learned the telephone industry from the ground up and thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the Craft and Management positions he held. He also appreciated the dedicated people with whom he worked over the years. Dick enjoyed fishing, hunting, scuba diving and softball, sharing some of these activities with his children. He also participated in scouting activities and loved watching his boys grow. He was very proud of the fine men his boys became, their careers and the beautiful families they created. Dick retired in 1993 as Outside Plant Construction Supervisor with many awards and commendations to his credit, but his most cherished compliments came from the crews he supervised during his tenure. After retirement, Dick and his wife spent 17 years in New Hampshire where they enjoyed their boat on Lake Ossipee and vacationing in the mountains of Vermont and along the seashores of Maine and Massachusetts before deciding that a more temperate climate was in order. In 2013, they moved to the Upstate of South Carolina and the beauty of Greenville County where they made their new retirement home in Taylors.

Dick is survived by his wife of more than 34 years, Anne Marie (Hogencamp) Thornton and his sons Richard R. Thornton (Patricia) of Monroe, CT, Thomas E. Thornton (Renee) of Springwater, NY, David S. Thornton (Yvonne) of Canandaigua NY and Todd P. Thornton (Louise) of Youngsville, NC. He is also survived by the step-children he helped raise, George W. Cornelius, Jr. (Tonya) of Middleburg, FL and James C. Cornelius and girlfriend Maija of Allentown, PA., as well as several grandchildren, a great-grandchild and his two little dogs. In keeping with Dick’s wishes there will be no visitation or service.