Mr. Robert Thornton passed away on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at McLaren Hospital in Lansing, Michigan at the age of 70 years. Robert was born on May 21, 1946 in Demopolis, Alabama to the late Jacques Smith and Martha Thornton-Washington.
Robert spent the first eight years of his life being raised by his late grandmother, Tilly Thornton, living on the family's sharecropping farm in Coffeeville, Alabama before reuniting with his mother and moving to Detroit, Michigan. Life was not easy for Robert as a child; he often shared his stories of living, sleeping, and eating on the streets of Detroit. Two Detroit Police officers found him and arranged temporary shelter for him at St. Dominic's Catholic Church and ultimately, the Wayne County Youth Home. No matter how chaotic life was for him, Robert continued with his education and enjoyed success at Northwestern High School as a track and field star.
At the age of seventeen, Robert joined the Marine Corps and his life from that point changed forever. Soon after Basic Training, Robert, an assigned Infantry rifleman, qualified and became a member of the 1st Force Reconnaissance Battalion Company. While serving multiple tours of duty in Vietnam he was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat at "V", the Vietnam, Cross of Gallantry with Palm, a Vietnam Service Medal with three Battle Stars, a Vietnamese Campaign Medal, a Combat Action Medal, A Presidential Unit Citation, A Navy Unit Citation, and A Good Conduct Medal. Upon his honorable discharge from active duty his loyalty to the United States Marine Corps did not end. Robert signed on and continued his military career with the Marine Corps Active Reserves in Detroit, Michigan ultimately being assigned as the Rifle Platoon Leader and obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Once his military career ended Robert "Thunder" joined his brothers in blue and served forty plus years with the Michigan State Police where he earned two Bravery Awards, a Meritorious Service Award, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Distinguished Service Medal, a Son of the American Revolution Medal for Heroism, an Honorable Mention Award and a Unit Citation. All of those blessed to know him knew he was an avid storyteller, had a love for hitting the open road and driving trucks riddled with Marine stickers. He was a committed and staunch military veteran, and more importantly, a loving father and grandfather.
Robert leaves to cherish his memory two daughters, Nicole Thornton Williams and Dawn Thornton; one son, Tony Thornton, Sr.; thirteen grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; a multitude of sons, daughters, and grandchildren he called his own.
Robert was preceded in death by his son, DeAndre Carlos Thornton, his mother and step-father, Martha and Leon Washington, and the woman he called mom, Louise Barnes.
Robert "Thunder" was a proud member of the Michigan State Police, and an even prouder member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It was his wish to be buried alongside his military brothers at Arlington National Cemetery. For those who would like to help make his final wishes come true, you may consider making a contribution at gofundme.com and search for "The Thunder Thornton Memorial," or in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Disabled Veterans Foundation, http://www.dvnf.org./
Robert spent the first eight years of his life being raised by his late grandmother, Tilly Thornton, living on the family's sharecropping farm in Coffeeville, Alabama before reuniting with his mother and moving to Detroit, Michigan. Life was not easy for Robert as a child; he often shared his stories of living, sleeping, and eating on the streets of Detroit. Two Detroit Police officers found him and arranged temporary shelter for him at St. Dominic's Catholic Church and ultimately, the Wayne County Youth Home. No matter how chaotic life was for him, Robert continued with his education and enjoyed success at Northwestern High School as a track and field star.
At the age of seventeen, Robert joined the Marine Corps and his life from that point changed forever. Soon after Basic Training, Robert, an assigned Infantry rifleman, qualified and became a member of the 1st Force Reconnaissance Battalion Company. While serving multiple tours of duty in Vietnam he was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat at "V", the Vietnam, Cross of Gallantry with Palm, a Vietnam Service Medal with three Battle Stars, a Vietnamese Campaign Medal, a Combat Action Medal, A Presidential Unit Citation, A Navy Unit Citation, and A Good Conduct Medal. Upon his honorable discharge from active duty his loyalty to the United States Marine Corps did not end. Robert signed on and continued his military career with the Marine Corps Active Reserves in Detroit, Michigan ultimately being assigned as the Rifle Platoon Leader and obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Once his military career ended Robert "Thunder" joined his brothers in blue and served forty plus years with the Michigan State Police where he earned two Bravery Awards, a Meritorious Service Award, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Distinguished Service Medal, a Son of the American Revolution Medal for Heroism, an Honorable Mention Award and a Unit Citation. All of those blessed to know him knew he was an avid storyteller, had a love for hitting the open road and driving trucks riddled with Marine stickers. He was a committed and staunch military veteran, and more importantly, a loving father and grandfather.
Robert leaves to cherish his memory two daughters, Nicole Thornton Williams and Dawn Thornton; one son, Tony Thornton, Sr.; thirteen grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; a multitude of sons, daughters, and grandchildren he called his own.
Robert was preceded in death by his son, DeAndre Carlos Thornton, his mother and step-father, Martha and Leon Washington, and the woman he called mom, Louise Barnes.
Robert "Thunder" was a proud member of the Michigan State Police, and an even prouder member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It was his wish to be buried alongside his military brothers at Arlington National Cemetery. For those who would like to help make his final wishes come true, you may consider making a contribution at gofundme.com and search for "The Thunder Thornton Memorial," or in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Disabled Veterans Foundation, http://www.dvnf.org./
Mr. Robert Thornton passed away on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at McLaren Hospital in Lansing, Michigan at the age of 70 years. Robert was born on May 21, 1946 in Demopolis, Alabama to the late Jacques Smith and Martha Thornton-Washington.
Robert spent the first eight years of his life being raised by his late grandmother, Tilly Thornton, living on the family's sharecropping farm in Coffeeville, Alabama before reuniting with his mother and moving to Detroit, Michigan. Life was not easy for Robert as a child; he often shared his stories of living, sleeping, and eating on the streets of Detroit. Two Detroit Police officers found him and arranged temporary shelter for him at St. Dominic's Catholic Church and ultimately, the Wayne County Youth Home. No matter how chaotic life was for him, Robert continued with his education and enjoyed success at Northwestern High School as a track and field star.
At the age of seventeen, Robert joined the Marine Corps and his life from that point changed forever. Soon after Basic Training, Robert, an assigned Infantry rifleman, qualified and became a member of the 1st Force Reconnaissance Battalion Company. While serving multiple tours of duty in Vietnam he was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat at "V", the Vietnam, Cross of Gallantry with Palm, a Vietnam Service Medal with three Battle Stars, a Vietnamese Campaign Medal, a Combat Action Medal, A Presidential Unit Citation, A Navy Unit Citation, and A Good Conduct Medal. Upon his honorable discharge from active duty his loyalty to the United States Marine Corps did not end. Robert signed on and continued his military career with the Marine Corps Active Reserves in Detroit, Michigan ultimately being assigned as the Rifle Platoon Leader and obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Once his military career ended Robert "Thunder" joined his brothers in blue and served forty plus years with the Michigan State Police where he earned two Bravery Awards, a Meritorious Service Award, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Distinguished Service Medal, a Son of the American Revolution Medal for Heroism, an Honorable Mention Award and a Unit Citation. All of those blessed to know him knew he was an avid storyteller, had a love for hitting the open road and driving trucks riddled with Marine stickers. He was a committed and staunch military veteran, and more importantly, a loving father and grandfather.
Robert leaves to cherish his memory two daughters, Nicole Thornton Williams and Dawn Thornton; one son, Tony Thornton, Sr.; thirteen grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; a multitude of sons, daughters, and grandchildren he called his own.
Robert was preceded in death by his son, DeAndre Carlos Thornton, his mother and step-father, Martha and Leon Washington, and the woman he called mom, Louise Barnes.
Robert "Thunder" was a proud member of the Michigan State Police, and an even prouder member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It was his wish to be buried alongside his military brothers at Arlington National Cemetery. For those who would like to help make his final wishes come true, you may consider making a contribution at gofundme.com and search for "The Thunder Thornton Memorial," or in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Disabled Veterans Foundation, http://www.dvnf.org./
Robert spent the first eight years of his life being raised by his late grandmother, Tilly Thornton, living on the family's sharecropping farm in Coffeeville, Alabama before reuniting with his mother and moving to Detroit, Michigan. Life was not easy for Robert as a child; he often shared his stories of living, sleeping, and eating on the streets of Detroit. Two Detroit Police officers found him and arranged temporary shelter for him at St. Dominic's Catholic Church and ultimately, the Wayne County Youth Home. No matter how chaotic life was for him, Robert continued with his education and enjoyed success at Northwestern High School as a track and field star.
At the age of seventeen, Robert joined the Marine Corps and his life from that point changed forever. Soon after Basic Training, Robert, an assigned Infantry rifleman, qualified and became a member of the 1st Force Reconnaissance Battalion Company. While serving multiple tours of duty in Vietnam he was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat at "V", the Vietnam, Cross of Gallantry with Palm, a Vietnam Service Medal with three Battle Stars, a Vietnamese Campaign Medal, a Combat Action Medal, A Presidential Unit Citation, A Navy Unit Citation, and A Good Conduct Medal. Upon his honorable discharge from active duty his loyalty to the United States Marine Corps did not end. Robert signed on and continued his military career with the Marine Corps Active Reserves in Detroit, Michigan ultimately being assigned as the Rifle Platoon Leader and obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Once his military career ended Robert "Thunder" joined his brothers in blue and served forty plus years with the Michigan State Police where he earned two Bravery Awards, a Meritorious Service Award, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Distinguished Service Medal, a Son of the American Revolution Medal for Heroism, an Honorable Mention Award and a Unit Citation. All of those blessed to know him knew he was an avid storyteller, had a love for hitting the open road and driving trucks riddled with Marine stickers. He was a committed and staunch military veteran, and more importantly, a loving father and grandfather.
Robert leaves to cherish his memory two daughters, Nicole Thornton Williams and Dawn Thornton; one son, Tony Thornton, Sr.; thirteen grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; a multitude of sons, daughters, and grandchildren he called his own.
Robert was preceded in death by his son, DeAndre Carlos Thornton, his mother and step-father, Martha and Leon Washington, and the woman he called mom, Louise Barnes.
Robert "Thunder" was a proud member of the Michigan State Police, and an even prouder member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It was his wish to be buried alongside his military brothers at Arlington National Cemetery. For those who would like to help make his final wishes come true, you may consider making a contribution at gofundme.com and search for "The Thunder Thornton Memorial," or in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Disabled Veterans Foundation, http://www.dvnf.org./
Inscription
SGT US MARINE CORPS
VIETNAM
BSM PH & GS
LOVING FATHER &
GRANDFATHER
OUR THUNDER
Gravesite Details
Interment July 25, 2016
Family Members
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