In Memory Of
Charles Cherry Thorne
1930
2021
Charles Cherry Thorne
March 18, 1930 — August 5, 2021
Charles Cherry Thorne was born on March 18th, 1930, to Charles Guy Thorne, and Hilda Mae Cherry, in Atlanta, Georgia. Charles moved with his parents to Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended Male High School. He excelled in football and track and field, and still holds the record for the 200 hurdle race. He then went to Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where he graduated in 1952. He met his wife, Mary Jo McGuire, at Centre, and they were married on June 6th, 1952, in Jackson, Kentucky.
After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked as a purchasing agent for General Electric. They then moved to New York, Pennsylvania, and settled in Sanford, Florida, in 1971. He then started a travel agency supporting the early development of the Disney theme parks.
Charles graduated from Rollins College in 1983 with a masters degree in education and spent the rest of his career as a teacher at Rock Lake Middle School in Longwood. He was the first teacher to introduce computers to the students. He taught all subjects for a drop out prevention program and reduced drop out rates from 50% to zero. Mary Jo taught Pre-K and Kindergarten at Pine Crest Elementary School in Sanford, Florida, for 21 years. After retirement, they moved to the Forest, a community in Lake Mary, Florida, where Charles served as President of the board for three terms. While living there, they made many cherished friends.
Charles had the personality of an entertainer and made friends wherever he went with a quick-witted joke or an uncommon act of appreciation. He enjoyed boating and building furniture for the family. He was a member of St. Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida.
Charles and Mary Jo were married 69 years and had four children. Michael Thorne was a high school principal in Florida and South Carolina. Kent Thorne was a computer networking engineer in Tampa, Florida. Lauren Young taught early childhood education at Highlands Elementary School in Winter Springs, Florida. Sharon Thorne was a federal special agent in charge in the Anti-Terrorism branch and fire engineer in Miami, Florida. They had six grandsons, Nicholas Carver, Freddy Nolfi, Thomas Young, Kent Young, Michael Young, Connor Thorne, and one granddaughter, Geneva Jordan.
Charles was buried on August 17th, 2021, with Military Honors at Oaklawn Cemetary in Lake Mary, Florida. His grandson, Army Specialist Michael Young, assisted with presenting the flag to his grandmother. The ceremony was held privately in precaution of COVID-19, with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Hamilton of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church presiding. The family can be reached through Newcomer Funeral Home at 335 SR-434 Longwood, Florida, 32750. 407-260-5400.
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3 KJV
After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked as a purchasing agent for General Electric. They then moved to New York, Pennsylvania, and settled in Sanford, Florida, in 1971. He then started a travel agency supporting the early development of the Disney theme parks.
Charles graduated from Rollins College in 1983 with a masters degree in education and spent the rest of his career as a teacher at Rock Lake Middle School in Longwood. He was the first teacher to introduce computers to the students. He taught all subjects for a drop out prevention program and reduced drop out rates from 50% to zero. Mary Jo taught Pre-K and Kindergarten at Pine Crest Elementary School in Sanford, Florida, for 21 years. After retirement, they moved to the Forest, a community in Lake Mary, Florida, where Charles served as President of the board for three terms. While living there, they made many cherished friends.
Charles had the personality of an entertainer and made friends wherever he went with a quick-witted joke or an uncommon act of appreciation. He enjoyed boating and building furniture for the family. He was a member of St. Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida.
Charles and Mary Jo were married 69 years and had four children. Michael Thorne was a high school principal in Florida and South Carolina. Kent Thorne was a computer networking engineer in Tampa, Florida. Lauren Young taught early childhood education at Highlands Elementary School in Winter Springs, Florida. Sharon Thorne was a federal special agent in charge in the Anti-Terrorism branch and fire engineer in Miami, Florida. They had six grandsons, Nicholas Carver, Freddy Nolfi, Thomas Young, Kent Young, Michael Young, Connor Thorne, and one granddaughter, Geneva Jordan.
Charles was buried on August 17th, 2021, with Military Honors at Oaklawn Cemetary in Lake Mary, Florida. His grandson, Army Specialist Michael Young, assisted with presenting the flag to his grandmother. The ceremony was held privately in precaution of COVID-19, with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Hamilton of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church presiding. The family can be reached through Newcomer Funeral Home at 335 SR-434 Longwood, Florida, 32750. 407-260-5400.
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3 KJV
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