Mark Thornton

Mark Thornton 86, passed away at home Tuesday evening in Weirton, WV. Mark was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.

He joined the U.S. Army at 17, serving in Panama, and was made sergeant at 19 years old. After graduating from Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. as a seminarian for the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, he returned to New York City where he met and married Nora, his wife of over 60 years. Mark attended law school at St. John’s University in Queens before going on to serve as a special agent in the FBI. After assignments in Milwaukee and Monterey, California (where he studied Chinese at the Defense Language Institute), he was reassigned to New York; he later served as special agent in the United States Customs Service and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and as a detective investigator for the Suffolk County, NY police department.

He and his family lived on Long Island until this year before moving to be near family. He lived his life for others and was always involved in service to his community and in ministry, spending his retirement serving in missions in Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, and China.

He is predeceased by brother Edward Thornton of East Rockaway, NY and sister Eileen Fitzgerald of Dunedin, FL. He survived by his wife Nora,daughter Kathleen (Andrew) Spinnenweber of Steubenville, son Mark (Ellen) Thornton of Maplewood, NJ, grandson Mark Spinnenweber of Steubenville, grandson William Spinnenweber of Bloomington, IN, granddaughters Summer and Serena Thornton of Maplewood, NJ, and by nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces.

Visitation will be from 9:30-11:30 AM at Mosti Funeral Home. Funeral Mass at Triumph of the Cross parish, 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 16 th , with interment following at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Steubenville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Bridge for Peace in Wading River, NY. Offer condolences,www.mostifuneralhome.com