William S. "Bill" Thornton Sr.

William S. “Bill” Thornton, Sr., 83 of Bryan, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Arbor Oaks in Bryan, four days short of his 84th birthday. Celebration of his birthday is scheduled during visitation on Sunday, February 21st from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 22nd at 1:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church in Bryan with Reverend Rick Sitton officiating. Burial will follow at the Aggie Field of Honor at Memorial Cemetery of College Station.

Bill was born in Dallas, Texas to Isora Shutt and Risher M. Thornton, Jr. He grew up on a farm in Bammell, Texas and graduated from Lamar High School in Houston. He enrolled in Texas A&M College and was a part of Company A and the Ross Volunteers. In 1953, he graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Admin and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the US Army. After two years out of state in the military he returned to the University of Houston Law School and received his law degree.

After graduation, Bill moved his family to Bryan in 1960. He continued his military career by joining the Texas National Guard where he served as a commanding officer until he retired from military service. Also within a year of moving to Bryan, he met John Lawrence and joined forces to form Lawrence, Thornton which would later expand into Lawrence, Thornton, Payne, Watson and Kling. He was an owner and past President of Lawrence Title and Abstract (now Lawyer’s Title). He practiced real estate, contract and probate law for over 50 years and was a member of state and local bar associations his entire career.

Serving the community that he loved so well, Bill served as the President/Chairman of the following: BCS Chamber of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club, Methodist Retirement Communities, First United Methodist Church Administrative Board, Brazos County Bar Association, Bryan Little League, Briarcrest Country Club, Bryan Jaycees, Texas A&M Quarterback Club, and Brazos County Industrial Foundation.

He had a strong desire to build a better, more cohesive community for a unified BCS in his work as the first President of the Economic Development Corporation (now RVP), and his role as Chair in Vision 20/20 with BCS Chamber of Commerce.

His devotion to his alma mater TAMU (class of ’53), included the President’s Advisory Council, the System Chancellor’s Century Council and the Development Council for the College of Science.

Outside his love and pride for his family, Bill felt most honored by his election to the Brazos County Commissioners Court, and receipt of the Man and Boy Award from the Boys’ and Girls’ Club and the Citizen of the Year Award awarded by BCS Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his work and civic activities, his passions included fishing and farming. His greatest passion however, was for his wife of 62 ½ years. He and Nita Beth enjoyed years of travel with friends, fun times at the lake together and family time with kids and grandkids.

He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother Risher M. Thornton, III.

Bill is survived by his wife Nita B. Thornton of Bryan; two sons and one daughter-in-law, William S. “Bill” Thornton, Jr. of Bryan and Bodley and Karen Thornton of Katy, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Trish and Hubert Havel of Bryan; six grandchildren, Dane and Kylar Thornton, Kayla, Paul, and Kaitlyn Thornton, and Ashley Hildebrandt and her husband Randy; and one great-grandchild, Rylan Hill.

The family would like to give special thanks to caregivers, Sandy, Erica, Virginia, Polly, Tim, Mary Kay, Lindsay, and those with Compassionate Care Hospice, Stephanie, Ann, Janice, Bettye, and Fran.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Bryan, Bryan ISD Education Foundation, Compassionate Care Hospice Foundation, United Methodist Retirement Community Foundation, or a Charity of Choice.