Obituary of Richard Francis Thornton

Richard Francis Thornton died peacefully on Thursday July 30, 2009. Beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Born in the Bronx, New York he was the only child of the late Stephen and Irene Thornton. He was a graduate of Fordham Prep., Fordham College and Fordham Graduate School receiving 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 Educational Testing Service in Princeton in 1989. He was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. 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, 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 11:00 am in the Church of Saint Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville on Tuesday August 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 1st Aid Squad, 165 Pilla Avenue, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.