Thorburn, Donald L.

Description

Ronald L. Thorburn was born February 27, 1927, in Brookline, Massachusetts, a son of James and Dorothy Nesbitt Thorburn. In Rye his family lived on Mohawk St and were members of the Presbyterian Church. Ronald was a graduate of Taft School and Dartmouth College.

While at Dartmouth, he enlisted August 23,1945 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. His service number was 911 38 69 and he would serve for 41 years in the United States Navy during WWII, the Korean Conflict and the reserves. For two years he served aboard a destroyer the USS Bausell in the Pacific during the Korean War

After his return to Ohio, he was a United States Navy Reservist in Akron and earned the rank of Commander. He married Mary Louise Labarr Apgar in May 1953 in Chatham, New Jersey. They had two children during their marriage.

He earned his Master’s Degree in Marketing from Columbia University in New York. He had worked in marketing for Ford, BF Goodrich and Saalfield Publishing Company. He and his wife, Mary Louise were Innkeepers in Weathersfield and Hartland, Vermont.

He loved piano, trumpet and singing and was in a Dixieland Jazz Band. He was an avid reader and was a member of the Rubber City Retreads of Akron.

Ronald Lawrence Thorburn, 84, of New Concord, OH, died Thursday, November 10, 2011 at Genesis Hospice-Morrison House.

At the time of his death, he was survive his wife of 58 years, Mary Louise Apgar Thorburn, whom he married May 9, 1953, of the home; two daughters, Heather (Jack) Beauchamp of Guernsey, OH and Leslie (Vern) Allen of Land O’ Lakes, FL; five grandchildren, Jason Allen of Atlanta, GA, Rachel Jane (Benjamin) Hall of Findlay, OH, Jesse Beauchamp of Guernsey, OH, Travis Allen of Gainesville, FL and Lia Allen of Orlando, FL; two nephews, Jim (Cynthia) Thorburn and Robert (Elaine) Thorburn; two nieces, Pam (Chris) Bloch and Anne (Peter) Hayes; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Thorburn of Connecticut; and two cousins, Alistair (Ann) Thorburn of Farnsworth, England and Pam Pryor of France.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Thorburn and Dick Thorburn.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Taft School, 110 Woodbury Rd., Watertown, CN, 06795, to start a scholarship in his name.

No calling hours or services will be held. Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1271 Blue Ave., Zanesville is entrusted with all arrangements.