William “Billy” Alexander Thornton, age 78, of Florence, passed away December 30, 2017. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 2, 2018, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Spry-Williams Funeral Home. A graveside burial with military honors will follow at 3 p.m. at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Thornton was a 1957 graduate of Rogers High School. He was a carpenter by trade and retired from Reynolds Metals. He also retired from the Alabama National Guard.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Barbara Patterson Thornton; parents, John M. Thornton, Sr. and Alpha O. Watkins Thornton; and sister, Julia “Tootsie” Gooch.
Survivors include his daughters, Debbie Diane Thornton and Vicky Thornton-Perry (Craig); grandchildren, Donya Ligon, Dani Gilliam, William McCullough, Savannah Cernosek, Chelsea Wallace and Austyn Newkirk; great-grandchildren, Blair Murphy, Olivia Murphy and Bennett Wallace; and siblings, Betty Thornton, Allene Gooch, Renee Thornton, Faye Gist, John M. Thornton, Jr. and Glenn Thornton.
Pallbearers will be John M. Thornton, Jr., Glenn Thornton, Kenny Gooch, Keith Hairrell, Ray Gist, and Randy Jones. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be James Bratcher, Mark Bratcher, Lyndel Rhodes, Tuck Rhodes, Jerry Warren, Craig Perry, Chris Ligon, Robert Holderfield, Jerry Alexander, and Ronnie Gist.
The family would like to express their appreciation to doctors David Hollis, Felix Morris and Joao de Andrade for their excellent care.
You may sign the guest register at sprywilliams.com
