Robert Emmett Thornton III

Robert Emmett Thorn-
ton, III (Bob) age 87, of
Toccoa, died May 7, 2025.
Bob was born July 5,
1937, in Beaumont, Texas,
a son of the late Robert
Emmett II and Frances
Lawrence Thornton. He
grew up in Toccoa and
graduated from Toccoa
High School in 1955. He be-
gan a career in funeral
service at an early age and
eventually became a li-
censed funeral director
and embalmer. Bob was a
member of the First Pres-
byterian Church of Athens
where he had previously
served as an elder.
He is survived by his
children, Anita Thornton,
Robert (Cathy) Thornton,
Peter Thornton (Greg Can-
non), all of Toccoa; his sis-
ter, Marianne (Ashton)
Smith, of Midland, Ga.; his
grandchildren, Mollie
(Sean) Payne, of Hartwell,
Jake (Alyssa) Thornton, of
Auburn, Ala.; great grand-
children, Knox, Duke and
Stella Kate Payne, Shaw
and Sutton Thornton.
Bob's children would
like to express their
thanks to the staff of Pruitt
Health Toccoa and Pruitt
Health Hospice for their
care these past several
months.
Private funeral services
were held.
Please keep the family
in your thoughts and
prayers and sign the on-
line guestbook at
www.whitlockmortu-
ary.net
Whitlock Mortuary, Fu-
nerals and Cremations is
honored to be serving the
family of Mr. Robert Em-
mett Thornton, III (Bob).