Person Page - 3346

     John Oliver Astell was buried at West Lebanon Cemetery, West Lebanon, Warren Co., Indiana.² He was born on July 4, 1921 at West Lebanon, Warren Co., Indiana.² He married Mary Ann Smith, daughter of John Herbert Smith and Emma Pearl Ingram, on July 20, 1947 at Bismarck, Vermilion Co., Illinois.^1,2 John Oliver Astell died on December 3, 1997 at Danville, Vermilion Co., Indiana, at age 76.^1,2 He John O. Astell, 76, a resident of West Lebanon, was dead on arrival at the United Samaritans Medical Center Logan Campus at Danville, Ill. at noon Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. He was born near West Lebanon, July 4, 1921 the son of Oliver P. and Katherine E. Etnire Astell. He had lived in the West Lebanon area all his life. He graduated from West Lebanon High School in 1939. He was married July 20, 1947 near Bismarck, Ill., to Mary Ann Smith. She is employed in the Warren County Auditor's Office and served as Auditor two terms. Mr. Astell was a farmer for 37 years and also did custom hauling. He also worked at Hubner Seed Co. He retired in 1987. He served in the United States Army and was a veteran of World War II. He was a member of the West Lebanon Christian Church. He was a member of the American Legion Post #259 of Williamsport. He also served on the Board of Directors of the West Lebanon Cemetery Association. He had a hobby of collecting pictures and autographs of famous people. In addition to his wife, survivors include: two sons, Phillip W. Astell and Michael W. Astell, both of West Lebanon; one sister, Mrs. Lloyd (Carolyn) Hickman of Covington; two brothers, Clair (Mildred) Astell of Catlin, Ill. and Richard L. (Cherie) Astell of West Lebanon; three grandchildren, Erin C. Astell of West Lebanon, John M. and Bryon W. Astell, both of Danville, Ill. Mr. Astell was preceded in death by twin sons at infancy and an infant brother. Visitation will be at the Fisher Funeral Home in West Lebanon after 4 p.m. EST Saturday. Funeral services will be in the West Lebanon Christian Church at 2 p.m. EST Sunday with Rev. John Buckley officiating. The body will lie in state one hour before services. Burial will be at West Lebanon Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the West Lebanon Christian Church Building Fund. on December 5, 1997.²

     His Social Security Number was 233-58-9084.⁹ Leslie Harlow "Les" Thorn was buried at Sunset Cemetery, Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio.⁴ He was born on November 10, 1939 at McComas, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^9,3,5 He married LaWonne Vadney Bowling on May 10, 1958 at Itmann, Wyoming Co., West Virginia.³ Leslie Harlow "Les" Thorn and LaWonne Vadney Bowling were divorced on May 16, 1984 at Franklin Co., Ohio.¹⁰ Leslie Harlow "Les" Thorn died on October 29, 2004 at Franklin Co., Ohio, at age 64.^9,4,6 He Leslie "Les" Thorn, age 64, passed away Friday, October 29, 2004. Les worked for the Jackson Pike Waste Water Treatment Plant. Veteran of US Army. He enjoyed hunting, country music and playing cards. He was preceded in death by his father Herbert and grandson Lawrence. Les is survived by his children, Lisa (Lawrence) Titus and Mike (Tawana) Thorn; grandchildren, Dustin, Ashton, and Jordan Titus; mother, Laura Thorn; brothers, Butch, Terry, Danny and Hogie; sisters, Charlotte Epling and Freda Fitzgerald; friend, Jan Hoover; nieces, nephews. He will be missed by all the people he touched in his life. Interment at Sunset Cemetery. on November 1, 2004.⁴

     Melvin Herbert "Butch" Thorn Melvin "Butch" Thorn, 73, of Beckley, WV (formerly Mullens, WV) went to his eternal home September 10, 2021, in the Beckley VA Medical Center after a long illness. Born March 31, 1948, in Mullens, WV, Butch was the son of the late Herbert Thorn and Laura Mary Thorn. He is preceded in death by his brother, Leslie Thorn and sisters Charlotte Epling and Freda Fitzgerald. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 53 years, Kathy Thorn; son Keith Thorn and his wife Sara; daughter Karen Dickens and her husband Shannon and grandson Dylan Dickens all of Beckley; three brothers Danny and wife Joyce of Blacksburg, VA, Frank "Hogie" and wife Cindy of Hampton, VA, and Terry and wife Karen of Mullens, WV, several nieces and nephews. Butch made his home in Mullens, WV for 70 years before moving to Beckley in 2018. He attended Faith Community Church in Beckley. Butch retired from the Wyoming County Board of Education, Maintenance Department. He was well known for making his deer jerky, banana peppers and pickles, which he shared with everyone.⁵ He was born on March 31, 1948 at Mullens, Wyoming Co., West Virginia.⁵ He married Kathy Faye Collinsworth on March 11, 1968 at Pearisburg, Giles Co., Virginia.³ Melvin Herbert "Butch" Thorn died on September 10, 2021 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 73.⁵

     Frank Hogan "Hogie" Thorn was buried at Parklawn Memorial Park, 2551 North Armistead Avenue, Hampton, Virginia.⁴ He Frank Hogan "Hogie" Thorn, passed away on March 15, 2023. Hogie was born on July 30, 1951 in Mullens, WV to Herbert and Laura Thorn. He received his Associate of Science degree from Thomas Nelson Community College and his Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University. He worked for Newport News Shipbuilding in the Chemistry Laboratory for 19 years and Environmental Engineering for 23 years. Hogie worked as the Environmental Manager, where he interfaced with Regulatory Agencies, managed the regulatory permits and led the effort for the shipyard to obtain their ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certification. He retired as a Master Shipbuilder in 2015 after 42 years of service. Hogie was an active member and leader of Fox Hill Road Baptist Church in Hampton. He was a deacon and on the Stewardship Committee, Church Council Committee, Board of Directors, and the Church Beautification Committee. He believed everyone should have some kind of therapy and his was deer hunting. He was pretty successful with bow, muzzleloader and shotgun. He hunted his Pine Grove lease in Charles City and was a member of the Flag Tail Hunt Club near Emporia, VA. He also loved to ride his four-wheeler on the trails in the mountains of West Virginia. Hogie was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Laura; his brothers, Leslie and Butch; and sisters, Freda and Charlotte. Interment in Parklawn Memorial Park.⁴ He married Cindy Unknown.⁴ Frank Hogan "Hogie" Thorn was born on July 30, 1951 at Mullens, Wyoming Co., West Virginia.⁴ He died on March 15, 2023 at Virginia at age 71.⁴

     Her Social Security Number was 235-64-8626.⁸ Charlotte Eleanor Thorn was buried at Pompano Beach South Lawn Cemetery, 400 SE 23rd Avenue, Pompano Beach, Broward Co., Florida.^3,9 She was born on May 17, 1942 at McComas, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^2,8,9 As of December 3, 1960,her married name was Epling.² She married Shirley Alfred Epling on December 3, 1960 at Hatcher, Mercer Co., West Virginia.² Charlotte Eleanor Thorn died on September 24, 2011 at Florida at age 69.^8,3 She Epling, Charlotte Eleanor, 69, of Deerfield Beach, FL, went to be with her Lord on September 24, 2011. She is survived by sons: Herbert (Ann) and Eric; by three granddaughters; four brothers; and by many friends. Interment in Pompano Beach Cemetery. on September 28, 2011.³

     Freda Joyce Thorn was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5250 Robert Centre Byrd Drive, Prosperity, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,6 She Freda Joyce Fitzgerald, 67, of Amigo went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, January 17, 2011 in a Beckley hospital following a long illness. Born October 4, 1943 in Mercer County, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Laura Mary (Smith) Thorn. Freda was a homemaker, a graduate of Mullens High School, a 38-year resident of Amigo, and a member of The Mullens Pentecostal Holiness Church. In her leisure she enjoyed reading her bible and watching TV ministry. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a brother, Leslie Thorn, and a nephew, Ronald Epling. Those left to cherish her memory include her loving husband of 38-years, Dennis Wayne Fitzgerald; a sister, Charlotte Epling of Deerfield Beach, FL; four brothers, Melvin “Butch” Thorn and his wife, Kathy, of Mullens, Danny Thorn and his wife, Joyce, of Blacksburg, VA, Frank “Hogie” Thorn and his wife, Cindy, of Hampton, VA, and Terry Thorn and his wife, Karen, of Mullens; mother-in-law, Mary Fitzgerald of Amigo; three sisters-in-law, Glenda Fluharty and her husband, Greg, of Middlebourne, WV, Lynn Vamcamp and her husband, Kenneth, of Middlebourne, WV, and Tina Barnhart and her husband, Jimmy, of New Martinsville, WV; and several nieces and nephews. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.² Her Social Security Number was 236-70-6984.⁷ She was born on October 4, 1943 at Mercer Co., West Virginia.^2,7 As of circa 1973,her married name was Fitzgerald.² She married Dennis Wayne Fitzgerald circa 1973.^2,5 Freda Joyce Thorn died on January 17, 2011 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 67.^2,7