Robert James Thornton

Robert “Bob” Thornton, age 60,  of St. Joseph, Michigan, was embraced in the arms of our Lord at Borgess-Pipp Hospital, Plainwell, Michigan, after a lengthy pulmonary battle.   A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI with Pastor Michael Roth of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Burial to follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Friday, December 5, 2014 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Borgess-Pipp LTAC Unit or Borgess Palliative Care.  Those wishing to sign Bob’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.   Bob was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, March 5, 1954, to Norman and Annabelle (Manto) Thornton.  He was raised in the Hagar Township area, attended Benton Harbor schools and graduated from Coloma High School.  He attended Southwest Michigan College.  Bob began his retail career as a teenager with the Kroger Company as a sacker, and worked his way up through the years in store management in Houston.  He then worked a short time for Walgreens in Chicago, but is most well known in the area as the owner of Thornton’s Home Town Café in St. Joseph, Michigan. Throughout the years, Bob loved playing baseball, tinkering with old cars, fishing, playing his guitar, but most of all enjoyed spending time with family. He loved children and embraced his grandchildren like his own. He always had a smile for everyone who crossed his path.   He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Kathy (Welsher) Thornton; two daughters: Shelley (Joe) Baggett of St. Joseph and Jennifer Thornton of Houston, Texas; Grandchildren Sarah Thornton, Michael Cooke, Colton Baggett, all of St. Joseph and Gage Slocum of Houston; Great-granddaughter Aurora LaFond of Benton Harbor; Brother Dan (Victoria Sue) Thornton of St Joseph; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Norman Thornton, Jr. and Randall Thornton.