Richard Lee "Dick" Thornton

Richard Lee “Dick” Thornton, 87, passed away Sunday, November 29, 2020 at his daughter’s home in Wichita, Kansas, surrounded by his family.
He was born February 6, 1933 in Madison, Kansas the son of Chet and Doris Burt Thornton. He attended Madison Schools and graduated from Madison High School with the Class of 1952. Dick proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
In the late 1950’s, Dick began a career working in the iol industry and his specialty was working with Liquefied Natural Gas. Over the next thirty years his career took him around the world working in places like Algeria and Borneo. In 1988 he took a position with Coastal Corp. in El Dorado, Kansas. Dick retired in 1995 after working the last two years in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Following his retirement from the gas and oil business he worked with Tom and Linda Wilson for several years at the Wilson Funeral Home in Madison.
He was joined in marriage to Marcia Huffman on November 21, 1957. They recently celebrated their 63rd year of marriage. Dick and Marcia were members of the First Christian Church in Madison.
He will live on in the hearts and memories of his loving wife, Marcia of their home in Madison; a daughter, Cara A. Thornton and her partner Judy of Wichita; a son Curtis Thornton and his wife Shirley of Lincoln, Nebraska; a sister, JoAnn Cannon of The Woodlands, Texas; an niece and nephew; two grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; numerous extended family and a host of close friends.
We will gather to celebrate Dick’s life at 2:00 P.M., Friday, December 4, 2020 at Blakely Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. until 6:30 P.M., Thursday evening at the VanArsdale Funeral Home in Madison. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church and sent in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box #488, Madison, Kansas 66860. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com. During visitation face coverings will be required and social distancing will be observed.