NATCHEZ — Services for John William Thorpe, 86, of Natchez, who died Sunday, March 6, 2011, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be at 1 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Paul Southerland officiating.

Burial will follow at Union Church Cemetery, in Union Church, under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from noon until service time today at the funeral home.

Mr. Thorpe was born Nov. 11, 1924, in Natchez, the son of George C. Thorpe Sr. and Pearl Florence Kile Thorpe. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of Bethesda Baptist Church in Fayette.

Mr. Thorpe was retired from Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company in Natchez. He loved gardening and was well known for his delicious tomatoes. He was loved very much and will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Sallie Mae Twiner Thorpe; his second wife, Delma Watts Thorpe; five brothers, Raymond Thorpe, George Thorpe Jr., Harold Thorpe, Loyd Thorpe and Gerald Thorpe; three sisters, Fay Aldridge, Margaret Cangemi and Georgia Jordan; one grandson, Michael Tarver; and one stepson, Billy Ray Dunigan.

Survivors include three sons, Jimmy Ray Thorpe of Natchez, John Wade Thorpe of Union Church and Lloyd Edward Thorpe and wife, Tina, of Richland; five daughters, Janette Tarver and husband, Willie, of Meridian, Linda Irby and husband, Vernon, of Enterprise, Marinia Smith and husband, Joey, of Union Church, Elizabeth Haralson and husband, Don, of Brookhaven and Nicole Angles and husband, Dale, of Natchez; two stepsons, Charles Dunigan Jr. and Roy E. Dunigan Sr.; three stepdaughters, Betty Bolyer, Deborah Dunigan and Marsha Maxie two brothers, Darol Thorpe of Union Church and James Thorpe of Natchez; 14 grandchildren, Susie Sturgis, Amy Lazarus, Jonathan Thorpe, Walter Ray Thorpe, Frances Sills, LJ Thorpe, Whitney Thorpe, John Tarver, Vernon Irby Jr., Blake Irby, Craig Smith, Melissa Smith, Rhonda Scott and Gaylen Herring; a number of step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and a number of extended family, friends, and dear friends, Bernice Delancy and Robert Fly.

The family expresses their appreciation to the critical care unit nurses at Natchez Regional Medical Center.

Pallbearers will be Walter Ray Thorpe, Jonathan Thorpe, LJ Thorpe, Craig Smith, John Tarver, Vernon Irby Jr., Jay Sturgis and Jonathan Thorpe Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be David Thorpe, Wesley Wallace, Wayne Holmes and Sam Bailey.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.