Mr. Robert Emory Thornton, 76, husband of the late Virginia Catherine Colonna Thornton and the late Jean Wallace Doughty Thornton and a resident of Exmore, passed away Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onancock. A native of Wachapreague, he was the son of the late Emory Thornton and the late Annie Marie Isdell Thornton. He was a retired HVAC contractor.
He is survived by seven children, Deborah Lynn Holt and her husband, Robert, of Kingsland, Ga., William Charles Colona Jr. and his wife, Dawn, of Ellicott City, Md., Robert C. D. Thornton and his wife, Marlene, of Richmond, Va., Timothy W. Thornton and his companion, Wendy, of Richmond, Emory P. S. Thornton and his companion, Shannon, of Moyock, N.C., Hillary Colonna Jr. and his wife, Patricia, of Pocomoke, Md., and Eva M. Truitt, of Exmore; three stepchildren, Jeanne Moore and her husband, Freddie, of Pungoteague, Albert Kellam “Buck” Doughty Jr. and his wife, Hélène, of Eastville, and Jennifer Doughty Baylis and her husband, Timothy, of Eastville; five brothers, John Thornton and his wife, Mary Lou, of Melfa, Norman F. Thornton and his wife, Diane, of Wachapreague, Arthur R. Thornton and his wife, Kathy, of Onley, Kenneth Thornton and his wife, Linda, of Wachapreague, and Richard A. Thornton, of Seaford, Del.; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Catherine Thornton; sister, Laura Olga Duplan; and two brothers, Emory Thornton and Edward Thornton.
A graveside service will be conducted Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at 2 p.m. at Wachapreague Cemetery with the Rev. Bobby Carroll Huether officiating. Family will join friends at Doughty Funeral Home Saturday evening from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were made by Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore.
