James "Dale" Thornton

James "Dale" Thornton, 85, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Born in Coffeeville, Mississippi, Dale grew up on a family farm where he learned the value of hard work, determination, and that he didn't want to be a farmer. He went on to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University. He began his career in aerospace at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, and later helped send a man to the moon with the Apollo program at NASA's Cape Canaveral. He went on to work for Boeing in California before transitioning to the field of nuclear energy, where he spent the remainder of his career with the Tennessee Valley Authority.
He was married for 61 years to his loving wife, Tonie Clayton Thornton, with whom he shared a lifetime of devotion and partnership. Dale was a lifelong Baptist and served as a deacon at Dallas Bay Baptist Church.
While Dale had a natural ability to understand all things mechanical and could fix anything with a motor, his real gift was making people feel loved and valued. To his family, he was a constant source of love, encouragement, and patience.
He is survived by his wife, Tonie Clayton Thornton; sons Brandon Thornton (Jennifer Scruggs) of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Clayton Thornton of Park City, Utah; and his brother, Mike Thornton. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Brooke Nicole Thornton; sisters Donna Logan and Dawn Campbell; and his parents, Q.T. and Mary Thornton.
A memorial service will be held at Chenal Valley Baptist Church on Saturday, November 8, at 2:00 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Chenal Valley Baptist Church Building Fund.