Mount Olive – Mr. Thomas Dillon Thornton, 71, of 146 Corbett Hill Road, died Saturday at Wayne Memorial Hospital.

A native of Wayne County, he was the son of the late Joseph Harvey Thornton and Betty Ann Grady Thornton. Mr. Thornton was a paint contractor. He was a faithful supporter of the Grantham Community helping the Grantham Rescue Squad and the Grantham Fire Deparment in many ways. Mr. Thornton was a member of Eureka Christian Church where he served as a deacon.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Eureka Christian Chruch with Rev. Frank Purvis officiating. Burial will follow in the Grady Family Cemetery near the home.

He is survived by his wife, Edna Ingram Thornton; a daughter, Lee Ann Best and husband, Johnnie of Grantham; a son, Dillon Thornton and wife, Becky of Raleigh; grandchildren, D.R. Thornton, Jr., Lisa Reedy and husband, Channing, Brian Best, Danny Thornton, Kevin Best, Stephanie Thornton, and George Thornton; great-grandchildren, Tyler Reedy, Christopher Reedy and Kaysie Thornton; brothers, Harvey Preston Thornton and Robert A. Thornton, both of Grantham; and a sister, Neta Pate of Goldsboro.

Mr. Thornton was preceded in death by a daughter, infant Iris Lynette Thornton and brothers and sister, Edgar Lee Thornton, Norma Jordan, and Percy Thornton.

Pallbearers will be Gordon Thornton, Kenneth Thornton, Wayne Mills, Randy Pate, Preston Thornton, and Dean Thornton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grantham Rescue Squad, Hwy. 13 South, Goldsboro, NC 27530.

The family will receive friends Monday from 7-9 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home and other times at the residence.