Wilbur Russell Thorndyke 1892-1952

THORNDYKE, HOMER, RAMSEY, MASON, STONE, ARNET, HILLER, HIMEBAUCH

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/2/2011 at 00:01:15

Wilbur Thorndyke Succumbs
Wilbur Russell Thorndyke, retired veteran rural mail carrier, died yesterday at 2:10 p.m. at his home after having been ill since February. He had been bed-ridden since mid-March with a tumor of the chest.

Mr. Thorndyke was born June 11, 1892, at Verona, Ill., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred a. Thorndyke. When only a child he came with the family to Emmet county and received his education in the Emmet county schools.

He was married at Spencer March 25, 1918, to Josephine Homer. The Thorndyke’s have spent their entire married life in Estherville. Mr. Thorndyke has been a rural mail carrier at Estherville Route 1 since then until his retirement because of ill health, a period of 34 years. He was officially retired May 1, 1952.

Mr. Thorndyke had always been interested and active in community affairs. He had played an active role in scouting and conservation in earlier years and was an instructor of military science and discipline in civilian pilot training (CPA) during World War II. He was a member of the U.S. Marine corps from 1910 to 1914 and served with the army during 1917 and 1918.

He was an active member of the Methodist church, the Masonic Lodge (Jeptha chapter and the Commandry) and the American Legion of which he had been post commander and post adjutant.

Survivors are his wife and two daughters, Mrs. James R. (Lorraine) Ramsey and Mrs. Loyle M. (Maurita) Mason and three grandchildren. Three sisters, Mrs. Maude Stone of Fort Dodge, Mrs. Vi Arnett and Mrs. Georgia Hiller, both of Laguna Beach, Calif., also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred R. Thorndyke, a brother, Charles and a sister, Mrs. F. D. (Edna) Himebauch.

Funeral services have been set for Monday at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church with the Rev. H. H. Dill officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery. Friends may call at the Sandin Funeral Home after 7 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Monday at which time the body will be taken to the church where it will lie in state until time of services. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, July 24, 1952)