Eleanor "Sybil" (Smith) Thorne

Eleanor “Sybil” (Smith) Thorne, 76, of Palmyra, passed away peacefully at the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 with her loving husband by her side.  She was born Monday, October 10, 1938 in Maysville, WV to the late Charles E. and Otie Alma (Burgess) Smith.  She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Gerald G. Thorne.

She graduated from Petersburg High School, WV in 1956, was employed by the Department of the Interior, National Parks Service in Washington, DC until she left to raise her children.  She later reentered the workforce with the Loudoun County VA School District and then Electronics Service and Design Corp. in Harrisburg.  She was a member of the Spring Creek Church of the Brethren and after retiring, she and Gerald enjoyed volunteering for the church sponsored food pantry, soup kitchen, and the church’s visiting team.  She enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, crocheting and watching her favorite television programs.  She was an avid Washington Redskins fan and enjoyed watching college and professional football.

She is survived by a daughter, Denise Jones and husband Doug of Greenville, NC; two sons, Greg Thorne and wife Stacey of Pittsburgh, and Eric Thorne and wife Nikki of Shippensburg; four grandchildren, Kyle Jones, Rob Jones, Emily Thorne, and Abigail Thorne; and one sister, Hazel (Smith) Oliff of MD.  She was predeceased by four sisters, Dorothy Miller, Ruth Nellis, Mary Weimer, and Victoria Jones; and three brothers, Alston Smith, George Smith, and Eugene Smith.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 30th at 11AM at Spring Creek Church of the Brethren, 335 East Areba Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033 with Pastor Dennis W. Garrison officiating.  Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10 AM until time of the service at the church.  Private burial will take place in Spring Creek Cemetery, Hershey.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to South Central PA Regional Office of the Alzheimer’s Association, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or Spring Creek Church of the Brethren Missions and Outreach Fund.  Rothermel-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 25 West Pine Street, Palmyra, PA 17078 has been entrusted with the arrangements.  Condolences and memories may be shared at www.rothermelfuneralhome.com

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