Richard Dunken Thornton, age 77 of Rowlett, TX, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2020, surrounded by his loved ones. Richard was born August 13, 1942, in Dallas to Emory Dunken and Fern (Goode) Thornton. He served his country as career military in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of SFC (E7), receiving the Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He retired from the US Army in 1982.
Richard is survived by his children: Christopher(Lucy) Thornton, Samantha (Christopher) Cyr, Heather (Christopher) Davis, Robert (Vicky) Staggs, Carrie Mei-Ling Farjellah, and Julie Lee; and beloved cousin and friend Kay Thornton (David) Potts, and beloved grandchildren Mackenzie Thornton, Kaylie Law, Logan Law, Chloe Law, Bella Cyr, Ava Cyr, River Cyr, Scarlett Cyr, Lauren Vara-Aylor, Christian Vara, Holden Davis, Leighton Davis, Jacob Staggs, Nicholas Staggs, Matthew Staggs, Zachary Staggs, Joshua Farjellah, Christopher Farjellah, Maria Grace Farjellah,, Ashley Bageant, Christopher Lee, and beloved great-grandchildren Jackson Schaefer, AnnaLeigh Vara, Rosalyn Aylor, Clayton Coleman and Logan Coleman, and blessed with numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson Christian Vara, and his wife Meriane B. Thornton, who passed on September 25, 2019.
Graveside services with full military honors will be held at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery in November.
