Richard Dale Thornton

May 2, 1936 – November 8, 2025

Pastor Richard Dale Thornton went home to be with the Lord on November 8, 2025, at the age of 89 years. Born in Aspermont, Texas, to William Desmond “Doc” Thornton and Ola Mae Thornton, he received Jesus Christ as his Savior in 1946 during a church revival where his Uncle Ray Turner was his pastor. He surrendered his life to the Gospel ministry in 1954 and served faithfully for 71 years as a pastor, missionary, and church planter. Dale attended Jacksonville College, Hardon-Simmons University, and the Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary at which he earned his Master of Divinity degree.

Family and home life: Dale married Barbara Gene Stringer on August 9, 1957 and called her “his precious jewel.” She served as a faithful and capable ministry partner by his side for the last 68 years. Dale is survived by their five children — Judy LaNell (Robert Rohlin), Belinda Jane (Stephen Thomas), Andrew Robert Thornton, Joanna Thornton, and Rebecca Thornton. They opened home and hearts to foster children, including Nancy Chang and Paul. Dale delighted in their 11 grandchildren: Melody Joy Preuninger; Richard William Rohlin; Faith Christine Allen; Grace Elizabeth Stephenson; Hope Victoria Pell; Harmony Danielle West; Arthur Frederick Rohlin; Christiana Liberty Rohlin; Christopher Dale Thomas; Krystal Michelle Hair; and Celeste Faith Pell. He loved visits from their 28 great-grandchildren.

Ministry and missions: Dale began his ministry pastoring several Baptist churches in Texas: Friendship (Goree), Enterprise (Jacksonville), and Friendship (Mt. Pleasant). On July 3, 1961, they arrived in Taiwan to begin 40 years of service as missionaries with the Baptist Missionary Association. During that time, they worked with the Hsin-Sheng South Road Church (formerly Xing-Yi Church while in language school for 2 years. They then planted Taichung Gospel Baptist Church, New City Baptist Church, and Ping Lin Gospel Baptist Church – all in the Taichung area. Their contributions both to the adults and children in Taiwan were recognized by the President of Taiwan after their 25th year of service and by the Premiere of Taiwan after 40 years of service – rare honors by the top two political officials in Taiwan. Dale also became the coordinator of missions in Asia, extending their ministry, preaching, and loving influence to India, Myanmar (Burma), South Korea, and the Philippines.

Gifts, character, and pursuits: Upon returning to the U.S. for “retirement,” Dale accepted the role as pastor of First Baptist Church, Las Colinas om 2001, where he remained for 24 years. This proved the adage that missionaries never retire but are “put out to pastor.” He began a family-oriented ministry there and used the church to launch a number of missions congregations including a Cantonese congregation, the Chinese church of Lewisville, and the Torcha de Fe (“Torch of Faith”) Baptist Church. Dale’s missionary heart lives on as First Baptist Las Colinas now hosts 4 Indian missions with two in the Telugu language and two in Tamil. His life work continues!

Dale possessed an exceptional memory of Scripture and preached with equal skill both in English and in Mandarin. Dale epitomized integrity because he was the same person in ministry as he was at home – a man of deep scriptural convictions with a passion to see people receive Jesus Christ. He enjoyed carpentry and once constructed 1000 Chinese moon guitar clocks to raise funds for a church building in Taiwan. He enjoyed orchid and rose gardening, smoking meats, and sharing family poetry. He authored Grandpa Dale’s Precious Memories, anecdotes of his early life. One boyhood story recalls taking a bath in a steel washtub (in which his 2 brothers had already bathed. Dale accidentally backed into the wood-burning stove while drying off and his mother had to doctor his burns. Dale loved reading these stories to his grandchildren and sharing his gratefulness for his family’s Baptist heritage. The effects of his well-lived life will continue to affect those he loved for years to come.

A visitation for Dale will be held Friday, November 28, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home, 4216 South Bowen Road, Arlington, TX 76016.

A committal service will occur 11:00 AM., Saturday, November 29, 2025 at Bear Creek Cemetery, 100 Bear Creek Cemetery Rd, Euless, TX 76039.

A memorial service will be 11:00 am., Saturday, December 13, 2025 at Calvary Baptist Church, 2101 S. Davis Dr., Arlington, TX 76013.

"Your prayers, love, and presence is the greatest gift you can give at this time. However, to continue Dale's missionary legacy, gifts in memory of Dale can be given to BMA Global Missions at https://bmaglobal.org/dalethornton or mailed to: BMA Global, PO Box 878, Conway AR 72033"