Born in Litchfield, Illinois∼On Thursday, May 24, Mr. John Nathaniel Thornton, Sr. passed away from cancer complications. He was surrounded by all of his family as he was peacefully ushered into the presence of his Lord.John Nathaniel Thornton was born on July 27, 1920, the youngest of four boys born to Dottie Lena (Carrico) Thornton and Edwin Albert Thornton of Barnett Township, Litchfield, Ill. John was raised on the family farm established by his grandfather, Nathaniel Carrico, in the early 1800's which is still today being farmed by his nephew, Fred R. Thornton and his son, Jeff Thornton and Jeff's two sons, Erik and Bryce.John left the farm in 1937 when he joined the Navy in Springfield, Ill., and was sent by train to San Diego for basic training. His first duty was as mess cook in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he heard they needed men for the submarine fleet at the China Station, Tsing Tao, China. He volunteered to go. With his reporting to the USS Narwhal SS 161, John started a long and illustrious career in the submarine fleet that saw 15 war patrols, 10 of these consecutive in the Pacific South China Seas. His career saw him stationed aboard the USS Narwhal SS 167 (where he struck for torpedoman and went on to second class, the USS Tarpin SS 175 (making torpedoman first class), USS Besugo SS 324 (a plank owner aboard the commissioning crew and Chief of the Boat, COB), and the USS Piper SS 409. At the end of W.W.II, John was sent to the Submarine Base, New London, Conn., where he was the Chief Master of Arms for the base. In 1955, he was stationed at Chicago's Navy pier aboard the USS Silversides SS 236, a submarine used for training through the base at Great Lakes. John retired from the Navy in 1957 and started work as a deputy sheriff for Kane County, residing in Geneva, Ill.In 1960 with the Bay of Pigs encounter, John was asked to come back to active duty, he was offered either Connecticut or Mare Island, he chose Mare Island stationed at ComSubGrp, San Francisco Bay Area. This was to be a two year return however two weeks before he was to be discharged he was extended for another year, finally retiring again in 1963.During his Navy career he was awarded the Bronze Star, Navy Commendation, Good Conduct, China Service, American Defense, American Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Campaign, World War II Victory, Occupation Service (Asia), National Defense, Defense of the Philippines, Philippine Liberation, Philippine Independence.Deciding to stay in California after retiring, John became an agent of the Farmers Insurance Group. William Geerts and he had an office on Pearl Street and in the Stevenson Building, then an office with Linda Conwell on Jefferson Street before retiring in 1990 at age 71 after 25 years and many top sales awards.John had a strong desire to serve and help people from all walks of life. It was very much a part of John's character to share his treasures and energy with those in need. He was a visitation deacon at the First Baptist Church and regularly visited several of the congregation. Recognition of people was very important to him. When the Beirut hostage situation occurred in the fall of 1979, John rang the bell at the church 54 times a day for all 444 days of their captivity. He was an avid fisherman, keeping a trailer for extended visits to Lake Pardee, which was shared with friends and family. He donated his vast library about the submarine activities of World War II to the Litchfield Library in Litchfield, Ill.John was married on June 7, 1943, to the former Martha Lou Anderson of Lockeford, this year they would have celebrated 58 years of marriage. The couple had three children, John (Edythe) Thornton, Jr. of Port Orchard, Wash., Ginny (Jon) Mills of Napa, and Gar (Patty) Thornton of Shelton, Wash.; granddaughters, Martha (Paul) Mills-Cooke, Emily Mills, Catherine Mills, Amy Thornton; and step-granddaughter, McCayla Hudson, also a great-granddaughter, Robin (Birdie) Mills.John is a member of the First Baptist Church of Napa, the Optimist Club of Napa, Life member of Submarine Veterans of W.W.II, Life member Navy Submarine League, he is a 32nd Degree Mason, Life member of SubVets, Inc., Reserve Deputy for Napa County Sheriff's Office, Vallejo chapter of BPOE, Wally Byrum Caravan Club International, American Defenders of Bataan and Corrigidor, Inc., Life member of NRA.Visitation was held at Richard Pierce Funeral Service at 1660 Silverado Trail Sunday, May 27 from 12 to 4 p.m., 12 to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 28, and 12 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29. Visitation will also be held today, from 12 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be held at First Baptist Church at 2590 First St. on Thursday, May 31 at 11 a.m. Pastor Peter Shaw will officiate, with observances from the Submarine Veterans of World War II and the Masonic Lodge. Louis G. Carsner will deliver the eulogy.Contributions may be made to World War II Memorial P.O. Box 96074 Washington D.C. 20090 or the Napa First Baptist Church, 2590 First St., Napa, Calif., 94558. Services are under the direction of Richard Pierce Funeral Service 1660 Silverado Trail, Napa.
Born in Litchfield, Illinois∼On Thursday, May 24, Mr. John Nathaniel Thornton, Sr. passed away from cancer complications. He was surrounded by all of his family as he was peacefully ushered into the presence of his Lord.John Nathaniel Thornton was born on July 27, 1920, the youngest of four boys born to Dottie Lena (Carrico) Thornton and Edwin Albert Thornton of Barnett Township, Litchfield, Ill. John was raised on the family farm established by his grandfather, Nathaniel Carrico, in the early 1800's which is still today being farmed by his nephew, Fred R. Thornton and his son, Jeff Thornton and Jeff's two sons, Erik and Bryce.John left the farm in 1937 when he joined the Navy in Springfield, Ill., and was sent by train to San Diego for basic training. His first duty was as mess cook in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he heard they needed men for the submarine fleet at the China Station, Tsing Tao, China. He volunteered to go. With his reporting to the USS Narwhal SS 161, John started a long and illustrious career in the submarine fleet that saw 15 war patrols, 10 of these consecutive in the Pacific South China Seas. His career saw him stationed aboard the USS Narwhal SS 167 (where he struck for torpedoman and went on to second class, the USS Tarpin SS 175 (making torpedoman first class), USS Besugo SS 324 (a plank owner aboard the commissioning crew and Chief of the Boat, COB), and the USS Piper SS 409. At the end of W.W.II, John was sent to the Submarine Base, New London, Conn., where he was the Chief Master of Arms for the base. In 1955, he was stationed at Chicago's Navy pier aboard the USS Silversides SS 236, a submarine used for training through the base at Great Lakes. John retired from the Navy in 1957 and started work as a deputy sheriff for Kane County, residing in Geneva, Ill.In 1960 with the Bay of Pigs encounter, John was asked to come back to active duty, he was offered either Connecticut or Mare Island, he chose Mare Island stationed at ComSubGrp, San Francisco Bay Area. This was to be a two year return however two weeks before he was to be discharged he was extended for another year, finally retiring again in 1963.During his Navy career he was awarded the Bronze Star, Navy Commendation, Good Conduct, China Service, American Defense, American Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Campaign, World War II Victory, Occupation Service (Asia), National Defense, Defense of the Philippines, Philippine Liberation, Philippine Independence.Deciding to stay in California after retiring, John became an agent of the Farmers Insurance Group. William Geerts and he had an office on Pearl Street and in the Stevenson Building, then an office with Linda Conwell on Jefferson Street before retiring in 1990 at age 71 after 25 years and many top sales awards.John had a strong desire to serve and help people from all walks of life. It was very much a part of John's character to share his treasures and energy with those in need. He was a visitation deacon at the First Baptist Church and regularly visited several of the congregation. Recognition of people was very important to him. When the Beirut hostage situation occurred in the fall of 1979, John rang the bell at the church 54 times a day for all 444 days of their captivity. He was an avid fisherman, keeping a trailer for extended visits to Lake Pardee, which was shared with friends and family. He donated his vast library about the submarine activities of World War II to the Litchfield Library in Litchfield, Ill.John was married on June 7, 1943, to the former Martha Lou Anderson of Lockeford, this year they would have celebrated 58 years of marriage. The couple had three children, John (Edythe) Thornton, Jr. of Port Orchard, Wash., Ginny (Jon) Mills of Napa, and Gar (Patty) Thornton of Shelton, Wash.; granddaughters, Martha (Paul) Mills-Cooke, Emily Mills, Catherine Mills, Amy Thornton; and step-granddaughter, McCayla Hudson, also a great-granddaughter, Robin (Birdie) Mills.John is a member of the First Baptist Church of Napa, the Optimist Club of Napa, Life member of Submarine Veterans of W.W.II, Life member Navy Submarine League, he is a 32nd Degree Mason, Life member of SubVets, Inc., Reserve Deputy for Napa County Sheriff's Office, Vallejo chapter of BPOE, Wally Byrum Caravan Club International, American Defenders of Bataan and Corrigidor, Inc., Life member of NRA.Visitation was held at Richard Pierce Funeral Service at 1660 Silverado Trail Sunday, May 27 from 12 to 4 p.m., 12 to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 28, and 12 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29. Visitation will also be held today, from 12 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be held at First Baptist Church at 2590 First St. on Thursday, May 31 at 11 a.m. Pastor Peter Shaw will officiate, with observances from the Submarine Veterans of World War II and the Masonic Lodge. Louis G. Carsner will deliver the eulogy.Contributions may be made to World War II Memorial P.O. Box 96074 Washington D.C. 20090 or the Napa First Baptist Church, 2590 First St., Napa, Calif., 94558. Services are under the direction of Richard Pierce Funeral Service 1660 Silverado Trail, Napa.
