Richard Thornton Obituary

Rev. Richard Leroy Thornton, Jr., 79, husband of Esther Thornton, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Born in Dunn, NC, he was the son of the late Richard and Alice Bordeaux Thornton, Sr.

Although Richard enjoyed a career as an electrician, his true calling in life was serving as a "Preacher of the Gospel." He had a deep and abiding love for Jesus Christ and found great joy in sharing His message with everyone he met. Richard never missed an opportunity to speak about his faith and the goodness of God.

Richard also found peace and happiness in the simple things in life, especially time spent fishing. Whether casting a line in quiet reflection or enjoying the outdoors with loved ones, those moments brought him great joy.

Above all, Richard dearly loved his family. He was a devoted husband, a proud father, and a cherished grandfather whose life was a steady example of faith, love, and kindness. His legacy lives on in the lives of those he touched and in the family he so deeply treasured.

He is survived by his wife, Esther Thornton; daughter, Brandy Feliu; son, Richard Thornton and his wife, Amber; grandchildren, Taylor Feliu, Jordan Thornton, Abigail Thornton, Briella Thornton, Bethany Thornton, and Jonah Thornton; and his sister, Cindy Burkhart.

In addition to his parents, Richard was reunited in heaven with three siblings, Brenda Cole, Betty Chase, and Tommy Thornton.

A Service of Worship celebrating Richard's life will be held on Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. at White Oak Community Church in Maysville, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made towards covering Richard's celebration of life services.

Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Richard with the family by clicking on either the "Share a Memory" footer or the word "Tributes" in the dropdown menu.