James D. Thorne, Ph.D.

James D. Thorne, Ph.D., 86, of Butler passed away Tuesday at the Community Living Center at VA Butler Healthcare.

He was the son of George and Wilma Thorne. He was born on Aug. 2, 1932, and raised in Meridian.

He played in all the sports offered at the Meridian Athletic Club, learned to play tennis at an early age, and was an avid model plane enthusiast.

Upon graduation from Butler High School, he joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and at the start of the Korean War, joined the U.S. Air Force. James served in Korea as an air traffic controller and returned to enroll in Slippery Rock College. He then met and married the love of his life, Doris Bodesheim.

He taught at Butler High School and then worked as an air traffic controller. He resigned from the FAA after his family survived the 1964 Alaska earthquake.

Jim earned his Ph.D. in education from the University of Pittsburgh and later became a faculty member and administrator at Grove City College. In 1994, the Fellowship of Christian Educators at Grove City College established the Dr. James D. Thorne Education Award.

Jim and Doris enjoyed six years of retirement in Florida, where he spent time fishing on the Gulf and playing tennis. They then returned to Pennsylvania.

Always active in the church, Jim was a member of the session that established Westminster Presbyterian Church in Butler.

He was instrumental in founding and directing the Fisherman Gospel Quartet, affiliated with Butler's First Methodist Church. After he and Doris moved to Concordia Retirement Community, he sang with the Concordia Chorale, directed the Troubadours, the Choraliers and the Concordia Singers.

He will be fondly remembered as a dedicated husband, father and grandfather.

Dr. Thorne is survived by his wife, Doris Bodesheim Thorne, whom he married on March 24, 1956; one daughter, Suann (Ray) Martell of Whidbey Island, Wash.; one son, Dr. James Dana Thorne, Ph.D., Lt. Col., USAF (retired) (Mary) of Arlington, Va.; his grandchildren, Jeanette (Justin) Lovern and Daniel Charles (Kelly) Martell; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Kendall Thorne.

THORNE — Friends of James D. Thorne, Ph.D., who died Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, will be received from noon until 2 p.m. Sunday at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jack Hartman, director of chaplain services of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, to officiate.Military honors will be conducted at the funeral home by officers and members of the American Legion Post 117 Butler, American Legion Post 778 Lyndora, and VFW Post 249 Butler.Private burial will take place at St. John's Reformed Church Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, Dr. Thorne requested donations to the Dr. James D. Thorne Education Award, c/o Grove City College, 100 Campus Drive, Grove City, PA 16127.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.