Eleanor P. Thorn

Eleanor was not an athlete, but she accepted an invitation to go bowling one day. Her gutter balls did not scare her date, August Thorn, so they married April 11, 1946 in Redwood City, California. After living there a brief time, they moved to their new house at 1649 Hollingsworth Drive in Mountain View. That would be home to Eleanor for the next 63 years.

Eleanor stayed home to raise the children. Both sons, Donald and Gary, graduated from Mountain View Academy, the same high school their mother had attended. Raising children turned out to be a calling for Eleanor. She was always available to watch children for family, friends and neighbors.

The Mountain View Seventh-day Adventist church was a central part of the family life. Eleanor enjoyed Gary’s wedding to Julie Twomley in 1971. And her 50th wedding anniversary to August was celebrated at the church in 1996. In 2012 Gary and Julie’s youngest daughter Carly chose the Mountain View church for her marriage to John Kerkhoff. Eleanor was pleased to play hostess for the bridal party.

Gary and Julie gave Eleanor 4 grandchildren; Brian Kristofer, Melissa Ann, Darrin Robert and Carly Michelle. She was also blessed with 5 great-grandchildren; Isabella Elena, Faith Ann, Kristofer August, Ethan Robert and Carolyn Elizabeth.

Time catches us all and it finally found Eleanor. In late 2012 she moved from her beloved Mountain View to Loma Linda where Gary could keep a watchful eye over her. Eleanor left us March 14, 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Carl and Vernon, and her husband August.

She is survived by her brother Robert, sons Donald and Gary, daughter-in-law Julie, grandchildren Brian, Melissa, Darrin, Carly and great-grandchildren Isabella, Faith, Kristofer, Ethan and Carolyn, stepson Richard and his family