William Franklin Thorn

William (Bill) Thorn was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma, on January 30, 1930, to William Floyd Thorn and Jessie Marie (Smith) Thorn. Bill graduated from Guthrie High School, and during this time, he worked part-time at gas stations, grocery stores, and on his grandfather's farm, where he was a huge help, especially at harvest time. Reflecting his desire to fly, Bill completed three years of ROTC and one semester of avionics while in high school. In 1949, he made the decision to get his education in the United States Air Force, while at the same time serving our great nation.

He fell in love with Carol Ross, and they were married July 3rd, one day before the fireworks began (one of Bill's favorite sayings), on the Fourth of July, 1949. They served across the United States and overseas at Burtonwood Air Force Base in Warrington, England, and Naha Air Force Base in Naha, Okinawa, adding three daughters along the way, Patricia, Karen, and Judy. These years would see Bill through the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War.

While stationed in Okinawa in 1964, observing the people worshiping their ancestors and numerous false gods, Bill and Carol felt the call from God to start a mission and to teach the people about the true God.

In 1969, Bill, now an elite member of his community with many years ahead of him, retired from twenty-and-one-half years in the United States Air Force as Master Sergeant, returned to the Oklahoma City area, bought a nice home and went to work for Western Electric where his intelligence and attention to detail were noted and he was asked to be an instructor for electrical courses. He enrolled at Oklahoma State University to further his education, but God had other plans. God spoke to Bill and Carol, individually, calling them back to serve Him as missionaries in Okinawa and to sell all that they owned. Much to the consternation of their friends and family, they put their house and their personal belongings up for sale, and their house sold in just two days.

Soon after returning to Okinawa, they were asked to care for a native fifteen-month-old baby girl, Aiya, whose mother had just passed away. God led them to adopt her, and she became a huge help in their mission work.

The Naha church is still going strong, with some of the original members attending, even yet. There are many souls who made it to Heaven because Bill and Carol obeyed God. Bill retired from the mission field in 1985, returned to the United States, and pastored churches in Chandler, Oklahoma; Wichita Falls, Texas; and served as an interim pastor for six months in Woodward, Oklahoma, before he and his wife established a church in their hometown of Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Bill assisted Carol in her role as Operations Manager of God's Food Bank for fourteen years in Guthrie, serving five hundred fifty families per week. Now, the miles, the years, and the hard work had "put them both out to pasture," as Bill has said.

Bill and Carol served a total of fourteen years on the island of Okinawa, where they are known, honored, loved and revered across the island. Their influence and teachings have lived on, and their story has passed on through the years and will for generations to come. Anyone visiting is sure to hear wonderful stories of the legends, the "Teacher Thorns," and their names will forever be threaded through Okinawan history and tales.

Settling in Bill's starting point in Guthrie, Carol's cousin blessed them with an acre of land upon which to build a home. Matthew 19:29 promises: "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Bill and Carol knew that God was giving back that which they had sacrificed to serve Him.

Bill has remained active and studious throughout the years of retirement and, after just a few weeks of illness, went to be with Jesus on November 10, 2025. This is the goal his eyes have been set on for most of his life.

He leaves behind his grieving wife, Carol; his children, Aiya Kelley (George), Judith Damron, and Patricia Geel (Jon); grandchildren, Carolina Sloan (Austin), Trent, Rhonda (Jared), Michael (Brittney), Sondra (Ronnie), Melanie (Bo), Missy (Rodney), Rebecca (Molt), Ken (Angela), Karen, and Tim; numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, his sister, Betty, nieces, nephews, cousins, and thousands of dear friends.

The service honoring his life with full military honors will be at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at Community Church located at 512 East Seward Road in Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044. Interment will be at Chapel Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens at 3:30 P.M. located at 8701 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73162. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 220 North 1st Street, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044.

Visitation for family and friends will be Monday, November 17, 2025, 4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M., at the Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 220 North First Street, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044.

Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgallo.com.