Thomas J. 'Tom' Thornton, 83, of Medina, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Life Care Center in Medina surrounded by his family. Tom was born on September 24, 1941, in Fostoria, Ohio, the son of the late Albert and Dorothy (Rowe) Thornton, Sr.

Tom retired from the Dow Chemical Company in 1992 following 29 years of service. He then worked at Skyland Golf Course in their clubhouse and retired when Skyland closed in 2017. He was a huge sports fan and especially followed all the Cleveland sports teams, as well as the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Medina Bees. Tom thoroughly enjoyed mowing his lawn and helping the neighbors shovel their driveways in the winter. He liked spending time with his family and taking yearly vacations to Michigan. He was an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, where he served on church council, as treasurer and helped with ushering. He would always be there to help in any way he could.

He is survived by his loving wife, Loretta (Bockbrader) Thornton, with whom he shared 62 years of marriage; children, Jeffrey (Kim) Thornton, Debbie (Jeff) Hicks, Kevin (Kristen) Thornton, and Sherri (Chad) Ward; grandchildren, Amber (Dan) Varnes, Kristina (Ryan) Crow, Colin (Caitlin) Thornton, Brendan (Grace) Hicks, Breanna (Mike) McCullough, Brittany Hicks, Emma Cervenik, Elaina Thornton, Max Thornton, Sadie Thornton, and Kayden Thornton; great-grandchildren, Madelyn, and Hailey; brothers, Albert 'Pat' (Peggy) Thornton, Jr. and Dick Thornton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Life Care Center for their compassion, care and the friends and relationships he made while he was there.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025, from 4-8 pm at the Waite Funeral Home: 765 N. Court Street, Medina, OH. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 10 am at St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church: 400 N. Broadway St., Medina, OH 44256. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.waitefuneralhome.com.