Ernest John Thorpe passed away in the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in Snowflake after fighting a valiant battle with cancer. His funeral will be held today (Aug. 22) at Snowflake Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The viewing will be at 1 p.m., with the service beginning at 2 p.m. Following the funeral, he will be taken around the Snowflake Temple and then transported in a horse-drawn hearse to his final resting place at the R.V. “Mike” Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake with military honors.
Ernie was born on Oct. 6, 1939, in Palisades Park, N.J., where he grew up.
An accomplishment he was especially proud of was being part of the team of the Division of Civil Defense and Disaster Control Department of Defense, on the Bergenfield Fire Department in New Jersey in 1959-60.
Later, in about 1966, he and a friend moved across the country to San Diego, Calif.
In September 1967, he met the love of his life, Betty Faye Rimer, and they were married on Nov. 11, 1967, in Carson City, Nev. On Nov. 30, 1972, they were sealed in the Oakland Temple.
In the accompanying photo, Ernie was working at Mrs. Grossman’s Paper Company, where they drafted and printed stickers. He was the safety manager and also tour guide. He took groups of school children around the plant to teach them how stickers are made.
Ernie and Betty arrived in Snowflake on Nov. 29, 2001, and moved into their home in December, where they have lived ever since.
He was always active in the LDS church, serving in callings such as Elder’s Quorum president, president of the Ward Seventy’s Group, High Priest group leader and president of the Sunday School, where Betty served as his secretary. He also worked with the Boy Scouts as treasurer for 10 years.
Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor was in charge of the arrangements.
Aug 202012
