Richard L Thorp

RICHARD LEE THORP, SR. OBITUARY Richard Lee Thorp, Sr., age 79 and born February 17, 1942 in Wolf Point, Montana to Kenneth and Alice Holly Thorp, died September 25, 2021 at his home in Vancouver, Washington. Dick lived in Wolf Point, Montana with his parents and three brothers - Perry, Vern and Kenny - until the sudden passing of their father when Dick was four. His mother moved the family to Monroe, Washington so they could be close to family - Uncle Harold and Aunts Arlene and Marie, and cousins Wes, Barbara and Carla. Dick was raised there until 1959, when at age seventeen he enlisted in the United States Army. After Basic Training, Dick earned his jump wings at Fort Benning with the 101st Airborne. He served a tour in Germany; then two years at Fort Bragg and Germany before he volunteered for Vietnam, serving in Danang. In 1966 Dick was honorably discharged having attained Staff Sergeant rank with seven years active-duty service. That was not, however, the end of his military career; after a few years working for Boeing and US Postal Service, Dick moved his family to Vancouver, Washington, where he concurrently served in the Army Reserve as a Chief Warrant Officer Four Military Personnel Technician, and a full-time civilian Army Reserve employee as senior Staff Administrative Officer of the 1st Brigade 104th Division. Dick provided supervisory oversight for full-time civilian and military personnel in Oregon's and Washington's Army Reserve units until he retired in 2002 with 38 years of active service. During his time with the Army and service at Fort Vancouver barracks, Dick married and raised a bunch of kids. He married his first wife Judy Brock in 1961, and they had five children - Rick, Scott, Holly, Steve and Kris - before their divorce in 1977. In 1978, Dick married Launie O'Leary; they had two boys, Zach and Nick, and lived in nearby Battle Ground, divorcing in 1990. In 2003, Dick married Connie Coffey and expanded his family even further, with her children Eric, Kevin, Alyssa and Ryan. Dick and Connie remained together in Vancouver until his death. Dick was the patriarch of his family, known and loved for his generosity, infectious laugh, welcoming disposition, and always-ready humorous stories and jokes. He frequently hosted boating trips; family gatherings; holiday get-togethers and Sunday dinners with friends and family. Dick was well-known and well-liked in the boating community but also had a broad circle of lifetime friends with whom he enjoyed spending time. Dick liked watching Sunday night football, heavyweight boxing matches; Nascar racing, and old western movies with his kids. He relished visiting with friends, drinking beer and engaging in friendly political banter, and as an animal lover always had a dog buddy nearby. Dick was physically fit throughout most of his life. He was a high school gymnast; a runner and tennis player throughout most of his military career, and he lifted weights well into his 60's. Dick is survived by his wife Constance; brother Kenneth; children Scott, Holly, Steven, Kristin, Zachary, Nicholas, Eric, Kevin, Alyssa and Ryan; sixteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father Kenneth Lee Thorp (August 8, 1946) and mother Alice Lorain Holly McCallister (November 21, 1963); brothers Perry E. Thorp (June 26, 2004) and Vernon Lobdale Thorp (June 11, 1983); son Richard Lee Thorp, Jr. (May 11, 2018), and grandson Cole Thorp Phalen (March 16, 2015). An internment of ashes ceremony with Military Honors will be held on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 1:00 PM, at Fort Vancouver National Cemetery, 1455 E 4th Plain Blvd, Vancouver, Washington.

Richard L Thorp

September 17, 1942 - September 25, 2021