Gary W. Thorpe, 1 April 1946

MARINE DIES IN VIETNAM ACTION DURING SECOND TOUR

A 21 year old Marine, Corporal Gary Wilford Thorpe, has been killed in action in Quang Tri, Khe Shan, Viet Nam on February 23, 1968, the War Department reported Tuesday evening.

His parents are Grant and Gloria Thorpe of Bear River City, UT and former Oneida County residents.

Enlisting in the Marine Corps at the age of 17, Corporal Thorpe was serving his second tour of duty in Viet Nam. A member of the LDS Church, he was born April 1, 1946 at Samaria.

Accompanied by a Marine escort, the body is expected to arrive in about two or three weeks and burial is planned at the Samaria Cemetery with Benson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Surviving are his parents, three brothers and one sister, Brent and Lonnie, Ogden; Louise and Timothy, Bear River City; grandmothers, Mrs. Wilford Thorpe, Santa Monica, CA; and Mrs. Bert Hall, Portage.

Funeral services were conducted at Samaria LDS Ward Saturday. Counselor Frank Jensen, Bear River City LDS Ward, officiated. Family prayer was offered by Rex Daniels; the invocation at the chapel by Bishop Robert Waldron and the benediction by Bishop John Roderick. Speakers were Vay Jensen, Robert H. Hansen, Bishop Roger Hendrickson, and Carleen Brown, who read the obituary and a tribute. Special music was furnished by Helen E. Jones, Leora Brown and Foster Ipsen and Samaria and Pleasantview Singing Mothers. Prelude and postlude music was played by Jessie John and accompanists were Helen Price and Hope Price.

Dedicatory prayer at Samaria Cemetery was offered by Raiford G. Benson. Flowers were arranged by members of Samaria LDS Ward Relief Society, Margaret Hughes, president. Casket bearers were from the US Marine Detachment, Salt Lake City. They also conducted military rites.