Garrett Walthall Thornton Jr.

Dr. Garrett Walthall Thornton Jr. of Dunwoody, GA, passed away on February 18th, 2020 at his home from a long battle with cancer. By his side were daughter Lyn and son in law, Dan.

His wife, Fran Phillips Thornton predeceased him, passing away in September 2015. Garrett is survived by son, Spencer Thornton, daughter, Lyn Thornton Peterson & her Husband Daniel Peterson, grandchildren Alexander Stephen Wyche, Christopher Phillip Wyche, Hunter Vincent Thornton and a lifetime of relatives and friends.

Born in Palmetto, GA to Garrett W. “Red” Thornton Sr. and Adele Turner Thornton, Garrett graduated from Druid Hills High School in 1946 and Mercer University, Macon in 1950. He was an Eagle Scout in Troop 55 Emory and a Kappa Sigma Fraternity brother. He joined the US Navy during the Korean War and became a Medical Corpsman.

While stationed in Bainbridge, Maryland, Garrett met an amazing woman at the wedding of a close friend back in Savannah, GA. That spitfire of a gal, Fran Phillips must have cherished his talents a bit more than Uncle Sam, so naturally he then pledged his allegiance to her. Garrett and Fran were married and moved to Savannah where he took a job with the Health Department.

Aware that her husband would not be satisfied with a plain ole government job and it’s career trajectory, Fran encouraged Garrett to reach for the stars and add a title to his name. “Dr.” would be a good enough start. They moved to Athens, GA where Garrett was accepted at the University of Georgia’s School of Veterinary Medicine. During their five years in Athens, Spencer & Lyn were born. In 1959 the family of four moved to Chamblee, GA where Dr. Garrett W. Thornton, Jr. officially began his Veterinary career at Peachtree Animal Hospital under the wings of his mentor, Dr. W. J. “Dub” Greenway.

A few years later, Fran & Garrett came up with a novel idea on how they could spend some more “family time” together: They could open their own mom & pop veterinary hospital! Thornton Animal Clinic was nestled between the car dealerships and fast food meccas of Buford Highway where Fran would run the office, Garrett could do the doctoring and Spencer & Lyn could help tend to the animals. And for the next twenty-five years, while other families took vacations surrounded by the majestic views of Yellowstone National Park or the imaginary worlds of Disneyland, the Thornton’s spent their holidays & weekends at the animal clinic tending to their client’s beloved pets… healing them, feeding them and of course “scooping” up after them. [Insert Garrett’s big smile here.]

People that knew Garrett called him a “character,” a “true gentleman,” a “mentor,” a “devoted husband & father” and a “sucker for any animal in need” (well, the ones he couldn’t eat). He became sort of a surrogate father to many of his “kennel boys & girls” who would come to work at Thornton Animal Clinic. Gordy, Tom, Raymond, Pat, Beverly & Michael White would take those valuable life-lessons gleaned from their time spent under Dr. Thornton and the watchful eye of Fran Thornton and let them shape their own lives & career paths. Neighborhood youngster, John Tarabula would go the distance, becoming a Vet himself and then pass the baton to his own daughter, a second generation Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. His clients and friends remind us daily of Garrett’s extraordinary patience, generosity, bedside manner and legacy that lives on.

One might wonder how a family man with two children and his own veterinary practice would have time for other pursuits and hobbies? Garrett would admit that he was an abysmal golfer, a turtle-pace swimmer and impatient fisherman, but he eventually found a hobby that he excelled at… skeet shooting. He and Fran both became trophy winning “gun slingers” and pistol packing firearm enthusiasts, collecting an arsenal of firearms and trophies over the years. They even reloaded all their spent shotgun shells in the upstairs “playroom” of their Dunwoody, GA homestead (an activity that certainly would have raised some eyebrows today). In his preteen years, Spencer enjoyed the unfettered access to the primers and gunpowder for his own “experiments in combustion.” Garrett, Fran, Spencer and Lyn were damn good shots. Just ask any quail. The annual Thanksgiving bird hunts with lifelong friend, Charlie Sams and his family would put fresh quail on the table every year and mark an ongoing family tradition. On another weekend each year, he would host a group of good friends and colleges at his Annual Wild Turkey Hunt up at the family cabin in the mountains of North Georgia… though never in it’s twenty-some-odd year history did they ever bring home a fresh wild turkey dinner. They never even saw a turkey, much less took a shot at one. And never once did any of them complain. It was all about fellowship.

Retirement did not slow Garrett in the least. At the Gate City Masonic Lodge #2 he became 32 Degree KCCH (That highest of honors takes a hell of a lot of time and commitment to earn. And no, he didn’t get to drive around wearing his fez in one of those silly little cars at parades, although daughter Lyn wished he would bring one home so her kids could take a spin every now and then). In the neighborhood, he and Fran entertained the “Waterton Court Winos” and frequently gathered with their neighbors to relax and “chew the fat” on the docks, patios and pontoon boats of Lake Kingsley, where the Thornton’s have lived since 1968. Each week Garrett did volunteer work at the Shepherd Spinal Center, in honor of his childhood friend, Harold Shepherd. He was a member of the Horseshoe Bend Country Club, the Mason Dixon Hunt Club and Christ the King Lutheran Church, where he religiously attended Bible Study Group up until his passing (not that he needed any instructions on how to be a better man).

Garrett and the Thornton family appreciated the life they were allowed to live. And them Thornton’s sure racked up the numbers: Garret’s dad, “Red” Thornton Sr. lived to be 100 years old, a number that Garrett Jr. was in hot pursuit of. He got to 91, and we’re pretty sure he realized that a few more numbers would not make much of a difference. He had served his family, had served his clients & employees, had served his friends and had served his god… he had done his best. That’s all he needed to do. He and Fran will see you all in the hereafter. Just look for that lanky, six-foot tall man with the horn-rimmed glasses, the “Andy of Mayberry” demeanor, a big grin and his “howdy do” greeting.

The Memorial Service for Dr. Garrett W. Thornton Jr.

Sunday, March 1st, 2020 @ 2:00pm

Christ The King Lutheran Church

5575 Peachtree Parkway

Norcross, GA 30092