Mr. Alton Thorn Jr.

THORN, Mr. Alton, Jr. - age 76, passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at his residence. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 6901 N. Saginaw St. with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Pastor Randy Schultz officiating. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 10 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Thorn will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Friday. Alton Thorn, Jr. was born on September 15, (or October 15,) 1937 depending on whether you ask my father Alton Thorn or my mother Corene (nee) Jefferson. During those days most children were born with the help of midwives. The recording of birth information became a bit inaccurate. I was the first of three children, the only boy born in Camden, Arkansas, where we lived until I was about the age of three. We moved to Peoria, Illinois, where my brother Richard and sister Joyce were born. At the age of six we moved to Inkster, MI. At the age of 17, during the Korean War, I joined the Air Force. In 1957 I moved to Flint, got a job at Chevrolet Metal Fabricating and work there until a severe auto accident. On June 21, 1965, I met and married Helen. We had 2 sons, Keith O. and Alton III. Helen and her family were Methodist and I became a part of their church family. On August 11, 1967, while on my way to work, I was involved in a head-on collision with a flat-bed truck. My injuries were many, and I was laid up for several months. During my recovering I developed a love for fishing and woodworking. Over the years I developed great skill in both and shared them with four dear friends, Richard Watson, Clarence McIntosh, Mary Broomfield, and Jerry. Living in the Beecher District, my oldest son attended school there encountering much prejudice. My step mother Katie working with Ben Roof who talked to her about his church and school. One thing after another and we were confirmed in 1972. I learned to know God personally through many of the members at Our Savior, who befriended my family and I. I will never forget Benn Roof, Sr. and Clyde Banks, Sr. My children grew up here at Our Savior. Keith and Alton and my niece and nephew Chanda and O’Shea, who as teenagers came to live with us. My prayer is that they will continue to all be able to “grow up” here at Our Savior both physically and spiritually. The ground here is rich for growing saints. I now leave to mourn my passing: my wife of 49.11 years (Cheated her out of that 50th sorry Helen buy yourself real nice), Helen; sons, Keith (Linda) Lansing, MI, and Alton III of Burton, MI; nephew, O’Shea (Kathy) of Montrose; brother, Richard Thorn; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 6 nieces; 5 nephews; 2 uncles; and several cousins; brother-in-law, Dr. Rudolph D. Wheaton; and sister-in-law, Ruth Wheaton.

Mr. Alton Thorn Jr.

September 15, 1937 - April 22, 2014