Richard Errol "Bucky/Buck" Thorne

1940 - 2015

Richard "Bucky/Buck" Errol Thorne
08/18/40 - 10/11/15
Richard (Bucky/Buck) Errol Thorne returned to his Father in Heaven on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in American Fork Hospital. Buck would smile and say that he has gone to join his fellow Marines who now guard Heaven's streets.
The second son of James Perry Thorne and Norma Meyers Thorne, Bucky was born in Ogden, Utah, on Aug. 18, 1940, and grew up in River Heights, Utah. A patriot from early on, Bucky joined the Marines the day after high school graduation and in four short years earned the rank of corporal. After his service, he attended Utah State University, where he met and married Verene Ashby. They were married in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple on June 6, 1963. Buck graduated from the University of Utah in 1967, where he was the cadet commander of the Air Force ROTC unit. He served in the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain, and was stationed at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and then at Beale AFB, California. Returning to Utah, he continued his education at Brigham Young University, where he earned a master's degree. During the course of his career, he worked in Utah, California and Nevada. Four months before his death, Bucky returned to Utah and was lovingly cared for by his oldest son, who was with him when he passed.
Bucky was gregarious and friendly and an eternal optimist. When challenges beset, he never gave up. Instead, he turned to the Lord and continued pushing forward. He had a deep love of his Lord and the Gospel and a strong desire to serve others and do what was right.
He was preceded in death by his son, Trever James, his parents, and his older brother, James Meyers and his wife Kaye Hugie Thorne. Bucky is survived by his sister, Lynnette Hansen (Dell Loy), his brothers Lawrence Ray Thorne (Nola Mortensen), Steven Wayne Thorne (Delsa Harris), Verene Ashby Thorne and their children Eleanor Tanene, Kraig Ashby, Ryan Darryl (Donna Fugal, and their children Antony Kay Erickson, Michael Jene Erickson, Rebecca Lynn Erickson, and Samuel Ryan Thorne) and Kenlan Richard (Kacey Bliss Bowles), along with many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, at 1 p.m. in the Pleasant Grove East Stake Center, 825 S. Loader Drive, Pleasant Grove, where family and friends may attend a viewing from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Interment will be in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery with military honors conducted by VFW Post 4918. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.