Arto Arvis Thorne passed away Sept. 16, 2013, at the age of 95, after a short illness. Visitation will be Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, from noon-2:30 p.m. at Greenview Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens. Mr. Larry Garrett will deliver the eulogy.
Arto was born in Franklin County, Ala., and graduated from Belgreen High School. He served in the army during World War II with Headquarters Battery, 183rd Field Artillery Group. He obtained B.S. and M.S. degrees from Auburn University and taught shop and vocational agriculture for 28 years at Rogers High School. After retirement, he enjoyed woodworking in his shop. He especially liked making grandfather clocks. He and his wife, Gladys, also enjoyed traveling in their Airstream camper with family and friends all over the U.S. As members of the Wally Byam Airstream Club, they enjoyed going to the club’s national conventions and on club caravans to Mexico and Canada. He was also a member of the Killen Senior Center where he enjoyed meals and playing Rook with friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Pounders Thorne; parents, Ellis and Verdner Thorne; brothers, Chircy Thorne and Sardis Thorne; sisters, Druzy Tiberg, Ida Ruth Jones and Castle Sisson; and great-granddaughter, Grace Noelle Edwards.
He is survived by daughters, Barbara Edwards and husband, Bruce, Leoma, Tenn., Brenda Staggs and husband, B.G., Cloverdale, Ala., and Judy Quigley and husband, Edd, Muscle Shoals, Ala.; sisters, Rammie Oden, Russellville, Ala., and Jerelene Richie and husband, William Mac, Florence, Ala.; grandchildren, Ryan Edwards and wife, Heather, Brentwood, Tenn., and Mandy Caruso and husband, Scott, Lakeland, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Stella Edwards and Benjamin Caruso; and very special friend, Madge Landers.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Edwards, Clark Mueller, Jared Oden, Joey Oden, Charlie South and Burrell Thorne.
Memorials can be made to Bonds Cemetery Fund, 180 Valleyview Road, Tuscumbia, AL 35674.
Arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home.