Mr. Edward Blair Thornton, Sr., age 97, of 8880 Willard Road, Willard, died Saturday, November 12, 2011, at home. He is pre-deceased by his wife of 67 years, Catherine Carr Thornton. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Nancy Thornton Stoddard and husband Edward of Raleigh and Mrs. Jane Thornton Clark and husband Steve of Gastonia; one son, Edward B. Thornton, Jr. and wife Patricia of Willard; seven grandchildren, Gina Thornton Eakins and husband George, Sr. of Harrells, Candace Thornton of Wilmington, Jennifer Clark Clifton and Joanna Clark, both of Gastonia, Jennifer Stoddard Klenzak of Pinehurst, Maggie Stoddard- Leidheiser and husband Jon of Columbus, Ohio, and Hilary Stoddard of Raleigh, and five great- grandchildren, Gracie Eakins of Harrells, Audrey Klenzak, Molly Klenzak and Kevin Klenzak, all of Pinehurst, and Jesse Leidheiser-Stoddard of Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Thornton was the son of the late George Holly and Anna Elizabeth Newton Thornton. He was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Jake, and one sister, Carrie Thornton.