David Richard Thornton

David Richard Thornton, 87, of Austin, Texas completed his life's work on May 31, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Richard's father Sebern J Thornton and mother Alice L Jackson Thornton, advised him early on that "a job worth doing is worth doing well".  Richard did his work well and it is now done. He was the third of four sons and was born in San Saba county Texas on October 07, 1933. He graduated from San Saba High School and Texas Tech University and did graduate work at Texas A&M University where he was employed as Superintendent of Grounds from 1960-1967. He left Texas A&M to work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department until his retirement in September 1995. Richard was heavily involved in redevelopment and expansion in Texas's park systems, state fisheries and wildlife systems. His pride and joy were his work on restoring the five pioneer Texas forts which included Fort Richardson, Fort Griffin, Fort McKavett, Fort Lancaster and Fort Leaton.  On August 3, 1951 Richard married his high school sweetheart Leota Mae West, and they were blessed with three sons, Walter Raigen, James Richard, John Leeland, and one daughter, Jauana Kay. All of whom supported his life's work. Richard spent his retirement with his family at the Lucky T Ranch headquarters in Austin, Texas with his family. His favorite pastimes included camping, hunting, fishing, raising cattle with his sons and grandchildren, watching college football, the Cowboys and restoring grandchildren, watching college football, the Cowboys and restoring his beloved FARMALL tractor.

Richard and Leota's life has been greatly blessed by our daughters Patricia 'Stormy' Thornton, Jauana Kay Thornton, Jodie Thornton, Kathy Kaufman, and by grandchildren, Micah David and his wife Margie, Sarah Elizabeth, Wesley Dean, Spring Gale, Elizabeth Ellen, Alice May, Janie Rose, Nichole Elizabeth, Jeremy Avril and his wife Shelly, Maverick Leeland, and by great children, Olivia Danielle, Lilly Marie, Micah David Jr., Emilia May, Wyatt Quigley, Emmett Quigley, Daniel James, Emma Lynn, Anna Jean, and Autumn Lynn. Richard was preceded in death by parents, brother Sebern Edward and Johnnie "Cotton", James N Thornton, son James Richard Thornton, grandson Wesley Dean Thornton, sister in laws Lee Ellen West Coburn, Luene West, Jeannean Thornton, Sarah Kate Wilder Thornton, daughter Tracey Templeman Thornton, and beloved parents Temple H. West and Lena Mae Walton West Johnnie, Richard, Edward, Jimmy, Alice, and Seburn.

In Lieu of flowers memorials can be made to High Valley Cemetery or a charity of choice.