Funeral services for John William Thorpe, 86, of Natchez, whodied Sunday, March 6, 2011, at Natchez Regional Hospital, will be 1p.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2011, from Laird Funeral Home Chapel withthe Rev. Paul Southerland officiating.

Burial will follow at Union Church Cemetery in Union Church underthe direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from noon until service time Tuesday from LairdFuneral Home.

John W. Thorpe, was born November 11,1924, in Natchez, the son ofGeorge C. Thorpe Sr. and Pearl Florence Kile Thorpe. He was in theU.S. Navy and served during World War II and the Korean War. He wasa member of Bethesda Baptist Church in Fayette.

He was retired from Armstrong Tire and Rubber Co. in Natchez. Heloved gardening and was well known for his delicious tomatoes. Hewas loved very much and will be missed by all of his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife: Sallie MaeTwiner Thorpe and his second wife: Delma Watts Thorpe; brothers:Raymond Thorpe, George Thorpe Jr., Harold Thorpe, Loyd Thorpe andGerald Thorpe; sisters: Fay Aldridge, Margaret Cangemi and GeorgiaJordan; grandson: Michael Tarver; and stepson: Billy RayDunigan.

Survivors include three sons, Jimmy Ray Thorpe of Natchez, JohnWade Thorpe of Union Church, Lloyd Edward Thorpe and wife Tina ofRichland; five daughters: Janette Tarver and husband Willie ofMeridian, Linda Irby and husband Vernon of Enterprise, MariniaSmith and husband Joey of Union Church, Elizabeth Haralson andhusband Don of Brookhaven, and Nicole Angles and husband Dale ofNatchez; two stepsons, Charles Dunigan Jr. and Roy E. Dunigan Sr.;three stepdaughters: Betty Bolyer, Deborah Dunigan, Marsha Maxie;two brothers: Darol Thorpe of Union Church, and James Thorpe ofNatchez; 14 grandchildren, Susie Sturgis, Amy Lazarus, JonathanThorpe, Walter Ray Thorpe, Frances Sills, L J Thorpe, WhitneyThorpe, John Tarver, Vernon Irby Jr., Blake Irby, Craig Smith,Melissa Smith, Rhonda Scott and Gaylen Herring; and numerousstepgrandchildren, great-grandchildren, stepgreat-grandchildren andnumerous extended family and friends; especially dear friends:Bernice Delaney and Robert Fly.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the CriticalCare Unit nurses at Natchez Regional Hospital.

Pallbearers are Walter Ray Thorpe, Jonathan Thorpe, L J Thorpe,Craig Smith, John Tarver, Vernon Irby Jr., Jay Sturgis and JonathanThorpe Jr.

Honorary pallbearers are David Thorpe, Wesley Wallace, Wayne Holmesand Sam Bailey.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.