Elizabeth Morse Thorpe

1938 - 2025

Elizabeth “Libby” Thorpe

January 22, 1938 - April 19, 2025

Elizabeth Morse Thorpe, known as Libby, died peacefully after a short illness on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC. She is preceded in death by her husband Mack Linwood Thorpe Sr. (Linwood), her son Mack Linwood Thorpe Jr. (Buddy), her father George Morse, her mother Nelle Turbeville Morse, her sister Barbara Morse, brother George Morse Jr. and niece Allison Thorpe. She is survived by her granddaughters Amy Thorpe Davis of Raleigh, Julie Thorpe Jones of Charlotte and her Daughter-In-Law Pam Thorpe of Pittsboro. 

She was a loving grandma to Amy and Julie and great grandma to Amy and Greyson Davis’ children Charlotte (14), Henry (11) and Jack (6) as well as Julie and Kevin Jones’ children David (11), William (Bill) (8) and Dorothy (4). She deeply loved her nephew and nieces Phillip Morse Sr., Angela Morse, Teresa Morse Harms and Wanda Thorpe. 

Born Elizabeth Carole Morse on January 22, 1938 in Goldsboro, NC. Libby grew up with her parents and siblings in Goldsboro before moving to Wilmington where she graduated from New Hanover High School. She married Linwood in 1953 and the couple made their home in Wilmington. 

The Thorpes were lifelong residents of the Middle Sound community in Wilmington. They lived in their home in the neighborhood since building it in 1959. Libby was beloved in the Middle Sound neighborhood and cherished living on the water by the marina with her family. She took daily walks around Middle Sound until her death. An avid gardener, Libby had an affinity for nature. You could find her walking along the marina often. She so often looked up at the moon at night, especially during a full moon, that Linwood said she was “moonstruck.” 

A woman of deep Christian faith, Libby read scriptures daily. She valued her church family at Ogden Baptist Church where she had been a member since 1964. She taught Sunday School for a number of years and enjoyed her time with her Sunday School class throughout her membership at Ogden Baptist. In recent years she came to cherish her time with a local Bible Study Fellowship. 

Libby worked for Wilmington A&P stores before joining Corning Inc. at the Optical Fiber Plant in Wilmington for many years before she retired. 

She will be remembered for her bright blue eyes, her smile and her turns of phrase that were uniquely Libby. 

Friends and family are invited to a graveside service: 
Thursday, April 24 at 3 p.m.
Sea Lawn Memorial Park
17750 Highway 17 N 
Hampstead, NC 28443