George I. Thornberry, 89, Piney Point, MD formerly of Glenn Dale, MD died January 3, 2015 at the Gilchrist Hospice in Columbia, MD. Born October 20, 1925 in Washington, DC he was the son of the late Henry and Nelly Thornberry.

He was the beloved husband of the late Margaret "Peggy" Thornberry whom he married on December 22, 1947 in Parkland, MD. He is survived by his children: Richard Thornberry of Napa, CA, Brenda Page of Glenn Dale, MD, Jeanne Halpin of Trappe, MD, and George Thornberry, Jr. of Davidsonville, MD; 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by his brothers: Henry (Juney) Thornberry, Jr., Robert (Bob) Thornberry and Joseph (Joe) Thornberry, and sister Barbara Thornberry.

Mr. Thornberry moved to Piney Point from Glenn Dale, MD in 1973 after retiring with the rank of Lieutenant from the Prince Georges County, MD Police Department where he served for 22 years. After moving to Piney Point, he worked as a school bus driver for the St. Mary's County School Board and then as a bus driver/chauffer for the Patuxent Naval Air Station.

Mr. Thornberry served in the U.S. Navy for more than 4 years during WWII after he enlisted at the age of 17 and was part of the crew of the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Atherton DE-169 during the D-Day invasion of Normandie, France and when his ship sank the last German submarine U-853 of the war with Germany during the Battle of Point Judith in Long Island Sound on May 6, 1945.

After the war he was a volunteer fireman with the Glenn Dale Volunteer Fire Association (Company 18) in Glenn Dale, MD. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 66 in Bowie, MD; Past President of the Suburban Lions Club, Glenn Dale, MD; and past Post Commander of the VFW Post 2632, California, MD.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 9, 2015 from 1:30 PM -2:30 PM. in the Mattingley – Gardiner Funeral Home in Leonardtown, MD where a memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that contributions be made in the name of George I. Thornberry to one or more of the following: Gilchrist Hospice Care 5537 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 434 Columbia, MD. 21045, Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad – St. Mary's County P.O. Box 1 Valley Lee, MD. 20692, and Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2632 23282 Three Notch Road. California, MD. 20619. Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home.