William C. Thornton, 94 years old, died peacefully on July 3, 2017, at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community in Quarryville, PA, where he had resided for 13 years. He was the son of the late Arthur Sewell Thornton and Catharine May Thornton (nee Smyers), and the loving husband of the late Elsie Elizabeth Thornton (nee Hare), with whom he shared 64 years of marriage. Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1923, Bill attended Garfield High School in Akron, graduating with honors. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was an Assistant Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America. During World War II, from June 1943 to December 1945, Bill served in the US Army. He participated in the Liberation of the Philippines following the Battle of Leyte Gulf as a Technician Fourth Grade in the Sixth Army’s 1041st Engineer Gas Generating Unit. He graduated with honors from Prairie Bible Institute, in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, in 1950; and from Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina, summa cum laude, in 1952.
Together with his wife, Elsie, Bill served as a missionary in Japan under The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) from 1953 to 1975, where he was instrumental in establishing three churches and directing TEAM’s language school for several years. After moving his family to Linwood, New Jersey, Bill worked as a machinist in Atlantic City from 1975 to 1992. He was active in Linwood Community Church in Linwood, NJ, serving as Sunday School Superintendent and Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He and his wife also participated in the church’s ministry to a local Haitian Church. He will be remembered as a strong and insightful leader, and a father and friend who was always available to give wise counsel or a helping hand. Bill was an avid outdoorsman, spending may days and nights hiking the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the Appalachian Trail, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He also enjoyed reading, woodcarving, and bird watching. He is survived by his children William A. Thornton of Absecon, NJ; Rebecca J. Jaffe, of Yardley, PA; and Thomas R. Thornton, of Linwood, NJ; and by eight grandchildren. Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 2:00 PM, at Q.P.R.C., Ellingsworth Auditorium, 625 Robert Fulton Highway, Quarryville, PA. Arrangements entrusted to Reynolds Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc. www.reynoldsfuneralhome.net Comments are closed.
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