Robert Earl Thorne's Obituary
Robert Thorne Obituary
A funeral service honoring and remembering Robert Earl Thorne will be held 10 AM Friday, July 1, 2022 in the Rivercrest Chapel of Bixby-South Tulsa Funeral Service. Interment will follow in Bixby Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 PM Thursday, also at Rivercrest, 13329 S. Memorial Drive. Robert passed away Monday, June 27, 2022 in Tulsa. He was 92 years old.
Born September 14, 1929 in Carbondale, Illinois, Robert was the son of Orman and Alice (Martin) Thorne. Robert was raised in the Midwest, near Golconda, Illinois. While in high school, Robert played basketball and played the saxophone in the band. During his early years, most people knew Robert by his nickname, “Thistle.” Robert earned the honor of Eagle Scout and later served as Scoutmaster for Troop 113. He graduated from Golconda High School with the Class of 1947. Robert enjoyed returning to Golconda for many class reunions throughout his lifetime.
Robert fell in love with Dorothy Brown, a beautiful young lady from Kentucky who was operating the soda fountain in the Golconda drug store. Robert and Dorothy married January 15, 1956, also in Golconda. The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage prior to Dorothy’s passing in 2016.
Robert attended Southern Illinois University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He would then serve in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, Robert pursued a career in sales with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. His career path eventually led to the Gas & Oil industry, bringing his family to the Tulsa area in 1966. Robert’s career relocated their family to Texas in 1981 where he eventually retired in 1992. Upon his retirement, Robert and Dorothy returned to South Tulsa, the community they were proud to call home for the rest of their lives.
An avid reader, Robert absolutely loved all types of news, historical literature, and John Grisham novels. He was always up to date on current affairs, enjoying the evening news every night before dinner. Robert loved comedy, especially political humor. If you knew Robert later in life, you probably were fortunate enough to receive an email or two in that regard. He remained a lifelong fan of jazz music or as Dorothy called it, “crazy jazz!” He loved traveling, playing golf with the “Bogey Boys” around Tulsa, and always keeping an extremely well-manicured lawn.
Surviving family include his children, Kent Vaughn and his wife, Theresa of Houston, Texas; Kristy Willingham and her husband, Steve of Perkins, Oklahoma; Kevin Thorne and his wife, Jackie of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Kay Maples of Tulsa, Oklahoma; his grandchildren, Kim, Melissa, Alex, Matt, Kari, Jennifer, Keaton, Amy, Jeremy, and Heidi; and great grandchildren, Payton Kay, Ella, Nick, Nate, Taylor, Harper, Jonas, Pierce, Mallory, Isaiah, Benjamin, Adam, Andy, Ally, Landon, Sawyer, and Millie.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents; and his beloved wife, Dorothy.
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