Colonel James Francis Thornton, Jr. (US Army, Ret.), age 85, passed away at home Sunday March 5, 2017 with his loving family by his side. Col. Thornton is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kay Francis Thornton (Ottens), his children, Anne Thornton-Lindsay (Andrew), Jonathan Thornton (Cathi), Kathleen Thornton-Bailey, James Thornton, III (Kris), Christina Thornton-Hodges (Todd), Andrew Thornton, Mary Kearney (Peter) and Sara Wilmore (Dave); his siblings, Mary, Jean, John, William, and Michael. Col. Thornton also leaves behind sixteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents James and Helen Thornton and his brother Robert.

Born in Milwaukee, WI October 27, 1931, Col. Thornton retired from the US Army and the Judge Advocate General's Corp. in 1987 after 32 years, which included service with the following units: 82nd Airborne Div., 101st Airborne Div, 4th Infantry Div. (during the Vietnam War), and as Legal Advisor to the US Southern Command, during which he helped negotiate the Panama Canal Treaty.
Following his retirement from the Army he worked as an attorney with Patten, Wornom, and Watkins in Newport News. He had been a resident of Newport News since 1988 and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. His faith in God was one of the defining features of his life. He also had a deep and abiding love of poetry and music.

The family would like to thank Melissa, Sherrina, and Stephanie from Riverside Hospice for their kindness and care during this difficult time.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 3:00 pm Thursday March 16, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Hampton VA, by Father Sean Prince. Visitation will begin at 2:00pm prior to mass and a reception will follow in the church commons.
The family wishes expressions of sympathy to take the form of contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758516 Topeka, KS 66675 woundedwarriorproject.org.

Arrangements are by Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton, 757-825-8070.