LAWRENCE D. "LARRY" THORNTON, Local Salvage Diver, Historian, Treasure Hunter and Collector, died peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 11th, 2009 at his home in Hull after a courageous battle with prostate cancer surrounded by his loving family. He was 67. Mr. Thornton was born in Quincy and raised and educated in Hanover, graduating from Hanover High School in 1960. He also attended Northeastern University in Boston. He was a resident of Hingham for many years before moving to Hull 9 years ago. Mr. Thornton was a voracious reader and well known by his family and friends for his quest for knowledge and love of adventure. He was a salvage diver by profession and his searches for treasure and historical artifacts took him to many locations on the east coast, the Caballo Mountains of New Mexico and South America where he discovered the wreck of the Spanish galleon La Capitana which sunk in the waters off Ecuador in 1644.
He leaves his wife Maria G. (Teves) Thornton of Hull; a son Lawrence J. Thornton and his wife GayLynn of Essex, VT; and his daughter, Marni E. Blauer and her husband Bill of Hingham. Grandfather of Zack and Harrison Blauer of Hingham; and Ryder and Juna Thornton of Essex, VT. Also survived by his brother Carl O. Thornton of Hanover and sister, Grace Finch of Norton, MA. He will also be missed by his many friends and black lab “Angie.”
Funeral Services Monday, Nov. 16th at 11 AM at the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond St., Hingham. Friends may visit at the Downing Chapel on Sunday from 2-5 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Larry’s memory may be made to the Lawrence D. Thornton Scholarship Fund, c/o Jinnie Walsh, Hingham Institution for Savings, 401 Nantasket Ave., Hull, MA 02045.
The interment is private.