WEST CARTHAGE, NY — John S. (Jack) Thornton, 85, of 31 Bridge St., West Carthage, died Monday evening, March 18, 2019, at Hospice of Jefferson County in Watertown.
Born April 15, 1933, in Geneva, NY, a son of the late Carroll and Elizabeth (Schoonover) Thornton, he was a 1952 graduate of Geneva High School. He attended Alfred University for a year before enlisting in the Army.
He served in the 66th Topographic Company in Stuttgart, Germany as a military policeman.
He completed his education at the University of Buffalo where he graduated as a pharmacist. Jack apprenticed at the Fox Drug Co. in Carthage and later worked in Mexico and Parish.
He married the former Lynn K. Metzger on Aug. 25, 1962, at St. James Church with Rev. McCarthy officiating.
In 1964 he was offered partnership in Fox Drug Co. and worked there for many years. In addition to Fox Drug, he worked at Carthage Area Hospital, Alexandria Bay Hospital and Rite-Aid Company in various positions.
Jack is a 53 year member of the BPOE Lodge # 1762, American Legion Post # 789, former member of Carlowden Country Club, the Ski Patrol at Snow Ridge and the Burnt Camp Club. Jack loved to hunt, fish and ski.
He was an avid Syracuse and Buffalo Bills fan. He also was a certified scuba diver and a private pilot.
He is survived by his wife: Lynn M. Thornton of West Carthage; a daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Mark Lewandowski of Soft Maple; a son and his wife, Christopher and Brenda Thornton, Spencerport; his grandchildren, Carolyn, Alexander and Matthew; a twin brother, Richard P. Thornton, Lincoln, CA; nieces and nephews and his favorite dog, Swayze.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Carroll Thornton.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home with Wayne Arnold and Paul Clarke officiating. Calling hours will precede the service from 1 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the 4 River Valley Historical Society, PO Box 504, Carthage, NY 13619 or to Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham St., Watertown, NY 13601.
To leave an online condolence, go to www.bezanillafh.com.
