Retired Command Sergeant Major Richard Miles Thornton, United States Army Reserve, 74 of Cataula died Friday, May 28, 2010 at Columbus Hospice. Graveside Memorial services with military honors will be 2:30pm EST, Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery according to Cox Funeral Home, Hamilton.
CSM Thornton was born September 24, 1935 in Edmond, OK, the son of the late Van Monroe Thornton and Alice Green Thornton. He was a graduate of Siloam Springs (AR) High School and had attended Auburn University. He was a proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
He served four years of active duty in the U.S. Army after some instruction at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. Following his active service, CSM Thornton served 24 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was also a former Co-owner of Garrett and Lane Color Lab. CSM Thornton was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Joseph Thornton and Rex Thornton. Survivors include his wife, Michele Thornton; three sons, Richard (Carol) Thornton of West Point, Andrew (Janet) Thornton of Fortson, Philip (Gwen) Thornton of Harrisburg, PA; one daughter, Liana (Scott) Bowman of New Port Richey, FL; two brothers, Van (Willa) Thornton, Jr. of Tulsa, OK, James (Glenda) Thornton of South Port, NC; two sisters, Marjorie (Bruce) Smith of Oklahoma City, OK, Patricia Duke of Troy, AL; a sister-in-law, Joann Thornton of Grapevine, TX; eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Please sign the online register at www.coxfh.com.