THORNE, Dwight Edward "Shorty" - b. January 3, 1937 - d. July 19, 2024

[patyrn]

Dwight Edward Thorne, affectionately known as "Shorty" was born in Kingman, Kansas on January 3, 1937 and died in Atlanta, Georgia on July 19, 2024.

Shorty served in the United States Army, worked as a mechanic, and retired from Automotive Controls Corporation in the early 2000s.  He was married to Maxine Lorraine Allison of Howard, Kansas for 56 years. They had five sons, John, Jeff, Jim, Jerome "Tony" and Jay.  After living in Independence, Kansas for most of his life, Shorty moved with his wife, Maxine, to Covington, Georgia in 2011 where they resided until her death in 2017.  Recently, Shorty was introduced to Carolyn Christian, and they were married on June 10, 2023.

While these details offer a factual account of the life of Shorty Thorne, words will never fully describe the man.  He was a living example of the adage, "Don't judge a book by its cover".  From the outside, Shorty was a crusty old cowboy that would sooner do it himself than to ask for help.  When it came to his opinion on a matter, he shot straight from the hip.  His quick mind, resourcefulness, and indefatigable work ethic fueled his independent spirit and weathered a tough exterior that could make some folks keep their distance.

That tough exterior was just the cover on the book that held the story of his life.  Shorty Thorne's kind heart, generous spirit, and love of life could not be bound by a cover.  It was built on trust in God, and he identified as a follower of Jesus Christ with a faith that worked.  On every page of his life, his big heartedness and love for others could be seen by the work of his hands.  From his own resources, he built handicap ramps for neighbors, remodeled homeless shelters, and drove the elderly in his community to the grocery store, the doctor, and to church.  He spent his time providing meals for children in his hometown, food for those on reservations, and bread to the food banks that served the neediest.

Although her was a man of few words, his generous actions were oracles proclaiming his love for his five sons, their wives, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He knew how to work to make a living, and he knew how to live to make a life.  Happy Trails, Shorty!  Cowboy Up!

A memorial service for Shorty Thorne will be held at Grace Lawn Cemetery in Howard, Kanas at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2024.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)