Mr. Robert Thorington, age 76, of Cedar Springs, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, November 21, 2011. His parents were farmers, and Bob was the youngest of their ten children. Bob rode the bus to school and needed to come home right away so he would work on the farm. While in high school, Bob met his sweetheart, Betty. He graduated in 1954; and after Betty graduated and turned 18 years of age, they eloped and were married on December 24, 1955. They moved to Grand Rapids where Bob began working at Guardsman Chemical. Bob would mix the chemicals and tint, package the products, and fill the tanker trucks and the drums. He worked there for 34 plus years. In 1958, Bob’s brother and brother-in-law died in an automobile accident and that was the turning point when Bob asked Christ to be in his life. He accepted Christ at Wealthy Street Baptist Church. In 1985 he and Betty moved to Cedar Springs and joined First Baptist Church. He was a very faithful and spiritual person. If you opened Bob’s Bible, you would find a lot of verses underlined and notations made. He was a very welcoming guy who would share what the family had. Many times during his working years he would hold two or three jobs so his wife could be a mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother and be at home. His children have been led by their father and have continued the same work ethics. When Guardsman Chemical went out of business, Bob went to the Family Fare in Cedar Springs and worked there as a part-time worker for 16 years. Most vacations times were spent with visiting family. Bob was a gentleman who loved the Lord and his family. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 56 years, Betty; children, Cynthia and Robert Beals of Grand Blanc, Debra and Robert VanDyke of Rockford, Linda and Timothy Rysdyk of Rockford, Julie and Jesse Mata of Holland, James and Jilayne Thorington of Rockford; grandchildren, Daniel Beals, Shawn Beals, Ryan VanDyke, Bradlee VanDyke, Samuel Rysdyk, Joseph Rysdyk, Jennifer (Phil) Millard, Katherine Mata, Stacy Mata, Paige Mata, Seth Thorington, Alycia (Matt) Burmeister, Brooke Thorington, Wyatt Thorington, Niklas Thorington, Alexa Haadsma, Joseph Dochod; great-grandchildren, Ian, Matthew, Emma, Elizabeth, and Jack; sister, Mrs. Bernice Helsel; brother, John and Darlene Thorington; and nieces and nephews. The Service of Praise and Thanksgiving for the gift of everlasting life through Jesus Christ for Mr. Thorington will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs, 233 S. Main Street, Cedar Springs, with Pastor Jim Howard officiating. Interment in Nelson Township Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs. Relatives and friends met with the family at the Pederson Funeral Home on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com