Graveside services for Edward Neal Thornton, 81, Raytown, Missouri, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at Thornton Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Thornton died at 1:35 a.m., Sunday, August 2, 2015, at Kansas City Hospice House.

He was born November 6, 1933, in Douglas County, Missouri, to John Leston Thornton and Lucy Lillian Collins Thornton. Mr. Thornton was a veteran, having served with the United States Navy. On December 31, 1954, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Marilyn Gilbert. Before his retirement, he worked as a branch manager of Trail Mobile Trucking Company. Mr. Thornton was a member of Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall.

He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Marilyn Thornton, of the family home; one son, Edward Neal Thornton, Jr., wife, Alauna, Tonganoxie, Kansas; one daughter, Sandra Marie Thornton Spaeth, husband, Russell, Lee's Summit, Missouri; three grandchildren, Joshua Robert Spaeth, Justin Russell Spaeth and Kayla Jean Thornton; one brother, William Ant Thornton, wife, Judy, West Plains, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents and one brother, Adolph Thornton precede him in death.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice House and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.