Richard Francis Thornton

Richard Francis Thornton LAWRENCEVILLE - Richard Francis Thornton, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully on Thursday, July 30, 2009. Born in the Bronx, NY, Richard was the only child of the late Stephen and Irene Thornton.

He was a graduate of Fordham Prep, Fordham College and Fordham Graduate School, and received his doctorate from Rutgers University in 1977.   Richard worked as a personnel manager for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey prior to moving to New Jersey, where he retired as director of research for the Educational Testing Service in Princeton in 1989. He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Predeceased by his grandson, Peter Stanton, in 1991, Richard is survived by Joan Thornton, his loving wife of 52 years. He is also survived by four children, Susan and her husband, Mark Stanton, Eileen, JoAnne, and Richard and his wife, Eileen Thornton. Richard derived great pleasure from his surviving eight grandchildren, Julianne, Melissa, Michael, Brian, Caroline, Patrick, Kathleen and Siobhan. Richard is also survived by his lifelong childhood friend, Raymond Smith.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. in the Church of Saint Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009. Interment will follow in Saint Hedwig Cemetery, Ewing. At his request, there will be no calling hours. Arrangements are under the direction of Poulson and Van Hise Funeral Directors, Lawrenceville. Please visit www.poulsonvanhise.com to leave a condolence for the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Lawrence Township Emergency First Aid Squad, 165 Pilla Avenue, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.

Published in The Times, Trenton, on 8/1/2009

© 2009 New Jersey On-Line LLC.