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John Milton Thorp
04/01/1923 — 04/13/2008
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
John Milton Thorp
Born on April 1, 1923 in Oklahoma City, OK Easter Sunday that year!, John Milton Thorp, age 85, finished his journey on this earth April 13, 2008. He grew up on his parent's farm in NW Arkansas with his younger brother Charlie and sister Mary. While serving in the US Navy from Dec. 1943 to June 1946, as a ship's aerographer, he discovered that his childhood love of weather could be a career. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in meteorology and climatology. He married Lola Anglin in January of that year, in Seattle. They moved to Richland in 1951 when he accepted a job at the Hanford Weather Tower, 200 West. After 16 years of forecasting, he transferred into the Atmospheric Sciences Research Dept. where he is still remembered with much love and respect. He had a total of 46 years at GE and Battelle.
After retirement, John tutored inmates at the Benton County jail for 9 ½ years, helping many to obtain their GED. He also volunteered in the CBC Literacy Program. He was concerned with maintaining natural areas and identifying wildflowers, lending his help in establishing the Badger Mountain preserve. With sincere interest and thoughtfulness, John touched many lives both young and old. His passion for backpacking/hiking and climbing in the mountains, his love for weather, wildflowers, cats and classical music, and his photography and painting was gladly shared with others. One highlight his wife Lola remembers, in spite of Alzheimer's, was the 13 day trip they took around Mount Rainier.
At age 12, John went to a traveling revival meeting. It was at this meeting that he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. John and Lola attended Westside Church for over 40 years. John ushered for 25 of those years, greeting visitors with a warmth and love that caused many to return.
John's beloved brother, Charlie, went home to Jesus before John. John Milton Thorp was a gracious, giving, and quiet man characterized by a deep thankfulness to others and his God. He will be remembered with joy and laughter by his wife, Lola Richland, niece, Lisa Holm, her husband Doug, Sammamish, WA. his nephew, Phil Thorp, sister-in-law, Ann both of Renton, WA. and his sister Mary Hudgens Fayetteville, AR, his wonderful cat Ziggy, his adopted family, the Jettes Richland, WA and a multitude of friends all over the world.
John requested that in lieu of flowers, to please consider a donation to the Union Gospel Mission, PO Box 1443, Pasco, WA 99301.
Service to be held at Westside Church, Lee Boulevard, Richland, WA. on April 26th, at 1:00 p.m.
John lived down the hall from my dad at Alterra/Wynwood. They became ‘hall buddies’ soon after John moved in. He remembered both of our names and many ‘talking points’ from Day 1. He was always upbeat and happy to talk. We do miss him.
With sympathy,
Mary and Pete
John was such a sweet man who took care of many, many people in his life. His faith shone through in his life. I will miss his easy smile and the kind, respectful way he treated others.
Val Densow’s Pharmacy
John and Lola were our neighbors for several years and became our good friends also. John was a very kind, generous, giving, and loving man who we will miss greatly. John was also a very dear friend to my mother Frances, who passed away just 2 months before John. We will all miss you very much John. God bless you and rest in peace.
jon, i hope you know how much i love you and how close i have always felt towards you, i will forever miss you and thanks for being such a wonderful person and a grandpa figure all these years.
Glad to have known you over the years and shared your experiences, Meticulously.
Dear Lola, Carmel, and all of John’s family. My prayers are with you at this time. I know that John is with our precious Savior, Jesus, and He is at peace. I will always remember John’s smile and the way he made my son feel at church. John always acknowledged my son and called him by his name. John’s ministry with young people at church was powerful. We will miss John, and yet, we look forward to seeing him in heaven someday.
Blessings to you.
I worked with John for many years at Battelle in the Atmospheric Sciences Dept. We shared many field trips all over the U.S. with Battelle’s aircraft, attempting to learn more about our planet’s atmosphere. It was always a pleasure to be around John. I don’t think he ever said anything discouraging about anyone or anything and was one of the finest gentlemen I have known. It is sad that he was not able to enjoy more in his later years, but I’ll bet he never complained about his situation. I feel very fortunate to have known John as my friend.
I really enjoyed John. He was the most welcoming usher at church. Not only was he charming, he always attempted to remember the names of our daughters. It was like a game – whenever one or both daughters came to the service with us he’d try to guess which one was Hannah and which was Heidi…I thought it was very special that he’d even recall either one’s name. Just looking at him made me smile. I will miss him.
John and Lola were inspirational and wonderful friends to our Mother, Vona Rose, and Aunt Thelma Clem. I grew to love and admire John through my mother. I loved hearing about his and Lola’s many travels and adventures. What absolutely beautiful photography came from those trips.
Vona Rose’s daughter Mary
Guestbook for
John Milton Thorp