William Louis Thornton of Brandon went to Heaven on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, from his home.

Mr. Thornton was born on March 16, 1934, at Heidelburg, the son of Harvey C. Thornton and Mary Perry Thornton.

He was a resident of Vicksburg for 52 years, and was a longtime member and deacon of Oakland Baptist Church. He was a member of Flowood Baptist Church.

Mr. Thornton served as a member of the U. S. Army and performed duty in Korea during the Korean War. He worked for the Corps of Engineers and Mississippi River Commission, retiring from the federal government with over 30 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Quentin Ross Sanderson; sisters, Velma Bowman of Longbeach, Calif., Lurline Burchfield of Hot Springs, Ark., Blanche Hickson of Gautier, and Aline Walters, Bess Rogers and Dorothy Chelette, all of Laurel; and brother, Leo Thornton, of Port Richey, Fla.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Glenda Joyce Purvis Thornton; sons, William Kenneth (Ann) Thornton of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Rodney Scott (Tammie) Thornton of Brandon; daughter, Kimberly Gail (Peter) Irby of Brandon; and sisters, Betty (Donald) Antoine of Vicksburg and Mildred (Richard) Warren of Laurel; he is also survived by seven grandchildren, Craig Thornton, Jonathan Thornton, Derek Sanderson, Drew Sanderson, Ashley Irby, Janalyn Thornton, and Sydney Thornton; one step-grandchild, Kara Reeves; three great-grandchildren, Nikki Thornton, Kendell Thornton and Ace Sanderson; and dear friends and relatives.

The family extends its deepest appreciation to the members of Oakland Baptist Church and Flowood Baptist Church, to their friends and relatives, and to the Sta-Home Hospice for their prayers and special care during Louis’ illness.

Visitation will be at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon today from 5 to 7 pm. A funeral service will be at Flowood Baptist Church at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016. Graveside service and burial will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery in Vicksburg.