Lawless G. "Tony" Thornton

Lawless G. “Tony” Thornton of Warner Robins died Friday, December 3 after a brief illness. He was 86. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 7 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warner Robins. Interment services will follow at Andersonville National Cemetery.

A native of Cuba Alabama, Thornton was the son of the late Carl Thornton and late Lillian Campbell Thornton. He and his wife, Viola of Manitowoc, WI, were married in Denver, Colorado, in April, 1941. Together, they traveled and lived throughout the United States during his military career. They have been residents of Warner Robins since 1961.

A retired Master Sergeant in the Air Force, he first enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1937. He served in the Panama Canal Zone in the late 1930’s. Subsequent duties as an aircraft crewchief and aircraft engine mechanic included many varied assignments. He was an aircraft crewchief with General Doolittle’s B-25 group (17th Bombardment Group) in early World War II. Later assignments included antisubmarine patrol on the east coast with the 309th and 334th Bombardment Groups, and combat tours in North Africa, and Italy with the 57th Fighter Group and the 51st Troop Carrier Wing. He served in Germany during the Berlin Airlift. Other duty locations included several stateside bases and Goose Bay, Labrador as the air force transitioned to jet aircraft. He retired from active duty at Moody AFB, GA in 1959.

He was a civil service employee at RAFB from 1961 until 1979 where he was a jet engine mechanic and quality assurance inspector. During this time, he was active as a board member of Troop 122 of the Boy Scouts of America.

Survivors include: his wife, Viola of Warner Robins; his son, Lt. Col (Ret) Joe Thornton and wife Nancy of Moreno Valley, CA; his son, Colonel William Thornton and wife Donna of Warner Robins, GA; five grandchildren, Ashley Thornton of Boulder, CO; Matthew Thornton of Annandale, VA; Philip Thornton of San Diego, CA; Jennifer Thornton of Warner Robins, GA; and Nathan Thornton of Moreno Valley, CA. One brother, Joseph D. Thornton and his wife Ruth reside in Clewiston, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be sent to: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 251 S. Davis Drive, Warner Robins, GA 31088.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088