Ricky William Thornton

Ricky W. Thornton, age 72, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Visitation will be Friday, October 31, 2025 from 1:00 PM until 2: 00 PM at Morrison Funeral Home, Central Heights. The funeral service will immediately follow with Reggie Bruce officiating. Burial will be at Tri- Cities Memorial Gardens. He was a hardworking, devoted son and husband who made friends anywhere he went. Ricky was a Christian who accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior July 13, 1966. Ricky was a 1971 graduate of Central High School, where he lettered in football and baseball while upholding a job at Winn Dixie Grocery. Directly after high school, Ricky enlisted in the Army Reserves and served his regional turn, while also working at NAPA auto parts. Ricky also went to technical school and learned to be an electrician. In 1976, his career with Ford Motor Company began, which in turn took his wife, Pam, and himself from little Florence, AL to a couple big cities. He started at the Listerhill Ford Plant, alongside his father, W.G. Thornton, Jr., and worked various jobs there until it closed in 1982. Next, they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he worked as an assembly line worker at the Ford Sharonville Transmission Plant. Then they transferred to the Atlanta, Georgia Assembly plant, where Ricky worked his way up to be Supervisor of the Oil House for the Paint Department on the Taurus/Sable line, and finished his career. Fortunately, Ricky got his 30 years at Ford in the same year the Atlanta Assembly Plant closed. After his retirement, Ricky and Pam returned home to live in 2008. Ricky had two main hobbies, fishing and car restoration/car shows. His love of fishing came from hours of time in the boat with his father and brother, Rocky, growing up. He carried that into adulthood fishing Lake Lanier while in Atlanta and bringing his boat home, on vacation, to fish with his father on Pickwick. Back home, in retirement he fished Pickwick until he couldn't do it anymore. Ricky restored two classic mustangs, a Red 1966 Coupe and a Yellow w/Rally Stripes 1970 Mach One. After he finished the restorations, he and Pam spent their spring, summers, and falls going to car shows around the southeast, winning trophies and enjoying life. Outside of travelling for car shows and coming home, Ricky enjoyed traveling to the mountains and the beach. He and Pam took many trips to Gatlinburg to see the fall foliage. Their favorite beach location was the white beaches of Destin, FL. Ricky loved Alabama Football and NASCAR. Ricky was preceded in death by his parents, William G. Thornton Jr. and Alice Palmer Thornton, his brother, Rocky Thornton, and his mother-in-law, Freida Dodd Jones. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Pam Jones Thornton; a sister, Kathy Johnson; four nephews, Donald Johnson Jr., Derek Johnson, Clay Jones, and Justin Jones. The family would like to thank the Doctors and Staff at NAMC, Glenwood Rehabilitation, and Hospice of North Alabama. A special thank you to the caring Staff at Keestone Assisted Living, who made Ricky and Pam a part of their family. Pall Bearers are Tracy Jones, Clay Jones, Glennis Simmons, Jerry Simmons, Donald Johnson Jr., and Derek Johnson. Honorary Pall Bearers are Cleve Miles, Tommy Miles, and Nathaniel Key. In lieu of Flowers, the family requests donations to Central Volunteer Fire & Rescue, New Hope Church of Christ Cemetery Fund, or charity of your choice.