William Rudolph Thornton, Sr., 89, of Ladson, SC, died Thursday, October 15, 2015. His memorial service, with military honors, will be held Tuesday, October 20, 2015 in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Northwoods Chapel, 2180 Greenridge Road at 1:00 pm.

William was born September 27, 1926 in Abbeville, SC, son of the late Robert F. Thornton and the late Mary Moore Thornton. He was an Army veteran and worked at Westvaco for 42 years. He was a member of a Masonic Lodge and of Omar Shrine Temple, Elk Lodge #242, VFW Lodge #3142 and American Legion. He had attended North Trident Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy "Dolly" "Sweetthing" Rawlinson Thornton; son, William R. "Bill" Thornton Jr. (Tracy Nesbitt); daughter, Cathy Thornton Davis (Gerrard ); four grandchildren, Ashley Thornton Gandy (Chris), Lindsey Thornton, Chrystal Davis Sanders (Matthew), Ryan Davis; six great-grandchildren, Reagan Gandy, Cadmon Gandy, Micah Gandy, Madison Hiott, McKensey Hiott, and Davis Sanders; sister, Sylvia Jenkins. He was preceded in death by his brother, R. F. "Bubba" Thornton.