Linda Joan Thorne

Linda Thorne passed away at her home with her children by her side on July 19, 2024. Linda was born December 28, 1943, in Ilwaco, WA to Elizabeth (Slanger) and Robert Rose. She was the youngest of her twin Sister by five minutes. She attended the Pendleton schools graduating from Pendleton High School in 1962 and then attended and graduated from Eastern Oregon State College (Eastern Oregon University) in LaGrande, OR with a Bachelor of Science and then continued on earning her Masters in Education.

Linda began her teaching career in Pendleton, teaching eighth and ninth grade social studies at Helen McCune Junior High and later spending the next 30 years teaching American history, Government and Civics at Walla Walla High School, retiring in 1999.

In 1963 Linda (Rose) met Jim Thorne on a blind date initiated by Jim’s sister-in-law. Within eight days they were engaged and married four weeks later on August 31, 1963, at the First Presbyterian Church in Pendleton. They were married just shy of 58 years.

Linda was a lifetime member of the Blue Mountain Riders equestrian group, joining in 1978 and participated in numerous parades and mountain rides. Linda was also an avid quilter and a member of the Walla Walla Valley Quilt Guild and loved going on quilt hops around Northeastern Oregon and attending quilting events in Sisters and Cove, OR with her best friend.  Linda was a member and past President of the Walla Walla-Columbia School Retirees Association and was an instrumental part in their fundraising event, Teddy Bear Tea. Linda was also active in the Washington State Republican Party Precinct Committee Officer attending meetings, vetting potential candidates and volunteering at the Republican booth at the fair. Linda loved people and she had an easy smile and infectious laugh. This year would have been Linda’s 25th year volunteering at Happy Canyon night Show in Pendleton where she volunteered in the Women’s dressing room and sewed numerous dresses each year including the dresses for the Can Can dancers as well as sewing new prairie dresses, aprons and bonnets. In 2023 Linda was honored by Happy Canyon in appreciation for her many years of dedication, support and service.  She also supported and volunteered for the Blue Mountain Pheasants Forever Chapter at habitat plantings and setting up for the annual banquet.  Linda and Jim liked to visit local casinos with friends and family.

Linda was an avid gardener, spending numerous hours weeding her flower beds and   enjoyed being in the mountains riding four wheelers and or RZRs with friends or being up at the family cabin. Linda also loved the beach, reading and canning.  Traveling was an adventure for Linda, whether it was in England, Ireland, a 14-day cruise to Panama, and Alaska. She was always ready to see new places and meet new people.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband and parents. She is survived by her sister Leslie Weimer, son F. Scott Thorne, daughter, Corrie Thorne Hadley (Chet), grandchildren Nicholas and Taylor Thorne, great-granddaughter Lilliana, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral service will be Friday, August 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM at College Place Presbyterian Church, 325 NE Damson Ave, College Place, Washington. Following the service, there will be a reception at the church. The burial will be at 2:00 PM at Olney Cemetery, Pendleton, Oregon.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Walla Walla-Columbia School Retirees’ Association through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.