Gilbert Joseph Thornton, Sr. - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

Gilbert Joseph Thornton, Sr., 92, of Salisbury, passed away on Saturday, May 26th, 2012 at the Wicomico Nursing Home. Born in Wilmington, DE, he was the son of the late Charles Howard Thornton and Marie Theresa McDermott Thornton. He and his wife owned and operated the Salisbury Rug Company (also known as Salisbury Discount Carpet) for over 55 years. He was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus and a previous member of Kiwanis and the Chamber of Commerce. His love of music and his gift for singing are reflected in his membership in the choir at Asbury United Methodist Church, Opera Society and S.P.E.B.Q.S.A. He loved sailing and following the stock market. He and his brother won several awards in canoeing.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Mary Virginia Kerin Thornton; 2 daughters, Mary Virginia Young of Salisbury and Kathleen Paulin & her husband, Ed of Boswell, PA; 2 sons, G. Joseph Thornton, Jr. & his wife, Jen Feldberg of Silver Spring and John Howard Thornton & his wife, Colleen of Columbia; 4 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Charles H. Thornton, a sister, Claire Thornton and a granddaughter, Ellen Young.

A memorial mass will be held on Thursday, May 31st, 2012 at 11:00 am at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury with a visitation one hour prior to the service. The family requests that contributions in his memory be made to Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, P.O. Box 1755, Salisbury, MD 21802. Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, PA, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804. Please visit Holloway Funeral Home's website to express condolences to the family.