Robert Dale Thornton, 67, passed away Monday, April 27, 2026, at his home in El Prado, Taos County, New Mexico when he lost his brave battle to cancer.

Robert was born May 11, 1958 in Dumas Texas to Dale L. and Margaret Anne (Cassel) Thornton. After graduating from Amarillo High School in 1976, he studied commercial art at TSTI in Amarillo. He found his career at Amarillo Hardware Company as a salesman in the Amarillo area for several years before relocating to the Taos Sales Territory where he made his forever home. He ended his career in 2015 at Randall Lumber & Hardware in Taos, NM. He was an active member and faithful servant of the El Pueblito United Methodist Church in El Prado, NM. Robert loved life and will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents. Robert is survived by his sister Renea Curry and husband, Mike of Stinnett; his brother Ranger T. Thornton of Amarillo; his nephews Clayton Curry and wife, Nicole of Austin, Calvin Curry and wife, Tania of Colorado Springs, and Carson Curry and wife, Lacy of Borger. He is also survived by great-nieces Gemma, Lucy, Eleanor, and Cambele and great-nephew Holden.

The family extends special appreciation to Robert’s great friends Ralph Branch, Gail Douglas and Rev. Cheri Lyon for their loving care and support of Robert.

Services will be held 10:00 AM Friday May 15, 2026 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home Chapel, 4180 Canyon Drive with Rev. Katie Hill, Associate Minister at Polk Street Methodist Church officiating. Burial to follow at Llano Cemetery.

There will also be a Celebration of Life service at the El Pueblito United Methodist Church, 1309 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte in El Prado, New Mexico on May 31, 2026 at 11:00 AM with Rev. Cheri Lyon officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to The Shared Table, PO Box 1302 El Prado, NM 87529 or the Cancer Foundation for New Mexico, PO Box 5038, Santa Fe, NM 87502.