Joel Thornton

1932 - 2013

Joel C. Thornton

Greer

Joel Cobb Thornton, 80, died April 3, 2013.

A native of Winterville, Georgia, son of the late William Thomas and Nellie Day Thornton, he retired as Senior Vice President of Fluor Daniel, was a member of the Greer Lion's Club, volunteered for Greer Community Ministries, and was an avid outdoorsman and turkey hunter. Mr. Thornton served in the U.S. Army Reserves and was member of Fairview Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and Sunday School teacher.

Surviving are his wife, Patricia (Pat) Harvil Thornton of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Christy and George Helmrich of Greer; four sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Vonda Thornton of Landrum, Jeff and Kathy Thornton of San Anselmo, California, Stan and Tracy Thornton of Greer, and Stuart Thornton of Meridian, Mississippi; three sisters, Martha Camp of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sarah Barré of Hockessin, Delaware, and Ann Grinder of High Point, North Carolina; ten grandchildren, Chris Collins, Jason Collins, Jeremy Thornton, Randall Thornton, Bryant Thornton, Thomas Thornton, Sam Thornton, Ben Thornton, Bo Helmrich, and Jessi Helmrich; and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Thornton was predeceased by a brother, Billy Thornton and two sisters, Totsie Elsdon and Willie Nell Thornton.

Funeral services will be held 4:00 p.m. Saturday at Fairview Baptist Church, conducted by Rev. Cliff Marshall and Dr. James Crocker. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Ray Lester, Mark Lester, Ishmael Gonzalez, Thomas Thornton, Sam Thornton, Jason Collins, and Chris Collins.

Honorary escorts will be the McFadden Sunday School Class and the Greer Lions Club.

Visitation will be held 1:00-3:30 p.m. Saturday at the church.

The family is at the home.

Memorials may be made to Greer Community Ministries, P.O. Box 1373, Greer, SC 29652 or Fairview Baptist Church Building Fund, 1300 Locust Hill Road, Greer, SC 29651.

Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com