SAMUEL EVERETT "TOM" THORNTON
Sept. 16, 1928-March 27, 2014
Samuel Everett "Tom" Thornton, Kinston, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 27, 2014, at Lenoir Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family.
He was born Sept. 16, 1928, to the late Facie and Blanche Thornton.
He grew up in the Bentonville community of Johnston County, and moved to Kinston to work at DuPont, where he retired after 33 years.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Debbie Thornton Lewis.
Tom was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
He was a loving husband, father and friend whose greatest joy in life was providing for his family and "building and fixing stuff" in his shop. He was known for his sense of humor and being a hard worker, and lesser known was his talent as an artist.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy; daughter, Mary Lynn Thornton of Kinston; two sons, Steve and wife, Glynda, of Winterville and Gary of Kinston; son-in-law, Jim Lewis; and four grandchildren, Brian Croom and wife, Amanda, of Kinston, Heather Matter of Hillsborough, Kasi and Matt Brooks of Greenville and Alex Thornton of Winterville.
He has seven great-grandchildren, Brannigan, Haley and Aubrey Croom of Kinston, Maren and Morgan Matter of Hillsborough and Wyatt and Sloan Brooks of Greenville.
He is also survived by his sisters, Arlene Strickland of Dunn, Nellie Westbrook of Four Oaks, Kathy Lee and husband, Junior, and Barbara Bryant; and brothers, Blake Thornton and wife, Alice Faye, of Goldsboro, Jerry Thornton and wife, Joan, Dennis Thornton and wife, Ruby, and Everett Thornton and wife, Paula, all of Four Oaks.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2014, at Howard-Carter Funeral Home in Kinston, with pastor Aaron Pendley and pastor Ivy White officiating.
The family received friends following the service and other times at the home.
A private burial will be held at a later time.
The family would like to thank Lenoir Memorial Hospital and all the healthcare professionals who took care of him during his illness.
Howard-Carter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to howardandcarter.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 30, 2014 7:40 AM