Obituary of Ronald James Thorp

Ronald James Thorp was born February 15, 1926 in London England. Son of Herbert William and Kate Marian Thorp. A WWII veteran he served in the British Royal Navy in the Fleet Air Arm from 1944-1946 stationed on Ponam in the Admiralty Islands. After the war he married Gertrude Eccles who had served in the women's auxilary air force and they had two daughters. He worked in England for London Transport on the double decker buses being both a conductor and a driver. In 1959 the family immigrated to the United States settling in Greensboro NC where in 1969 he was proud to receive his US Citizenship. He worked for Moore Music, UNC-TV, Phillips Management Group and owned his own home improvement company "Ron's Repairs". He loved to listen to "good" music, horseback ride and sail. He never met an animal he didn't fall in love with being a rescuer of many dogs and cats. he was predeceased by his parents, brothers Charles Arthur and Albert William Thorp, sisters Gladys May Emmins and Kathleen Lillian Hellier and two wives Gertrude (Trudy) and Cenobia (Cindy). He is survived by nieces and nephews in England and America and his daughters Jacqueline Thorp Smith and husband Charles with whom he had made his home for the last six years in Hillsborough NC and Marion Thorp Ingram and husband Michael of Pleasant Garden. Grandchildren David William Patterson and wife Amber of Wilmington, Sarah Patterson Sheppard and husband Philip of Greensboro Step grandchildren Dawn Smith Blake, Chuck Smith and wife Jana of Chapel Hill. Family was very important to him. He was most proud of the next generation Taylor Beth and Sadie Jane Patterson, Trudy Webster, Annie Patterson and Philip Russell Sheppard, Connor Alexander Blake, Maylynn Opal and Thomas James Smith.
He went to be with our Lord on July 28th 2018 at 9:40 pm and is now at peace. A special thanks to Dr Mark Perini (Guilford Medical Associates) and Alamance Caswell Hospice especially Mitzi and Joanna who have given us tremendous help and support during the last few months. In lieu of flowers please donate to Alamance Caswell Hospice 918 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington NC 27215 or your local ASPCA. There will be a Memorial Tea to celebrate his life on August 3, 2018 from 4-6 at Lambeth-Troxler Funeral Home at 300 West Wendover Avenue Greensboro, NC 27408