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Hazel Dean Thorne, 92, of Harrisonburg, died Sunday, July 18, 2010, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital.
Hazel was born Nov. 15, 1917, in Bear Branch, Ky., and was a daughter of the late Robert and Malva Hensley Crawford. She was also preceded in death by her son, Russell Lowell Thorne; seven brothers, Earl Crawford, Dennis Crawford, Russell Crawford, Leander Crawford, Vernon Crawford, Bob Crawford and Melvin Crawford, and her sister, Betty Jean Crawford Begley.
During WWII, Hazel worked in Dayton, Ohio, as a "Rosie the Riveter." She made gun sites for B-29 aircraft. She met and then married, on Dec. 23, 1945, her loyal husband of 64 years, Melvin David Thorne, who survives. After moving to Harrisonburg, Hazel became a member of the West Side Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher and leader of WMU. She was a dedicated homemaker, loved flowers and gardening, loved to cook and sew for her children and make quilts. Most of all, Hazel loved her family. Her favorite pastime was spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Other surviving members of Hazel's family include two daughters, Melva Snyder of Warrenton, and Lynette Latham and husband, William, of Harrisonburg; one daughter-in-law, Judy Thorne; two brothers, Ralph Crawford of London, Ky., and Ted Crawford of Lexington, Ky.; eight grandchildren, Shawnette Snyder Daly and husband, Richard of Poolesville, Leah Snyder Horrell and husband, the Rev. Seth Horrell of Williamsburg, Lashelle Snyder Chappell and husband, John of Durham, N.C., the Rev. David Thorne and wife, Jessica of Cleveland, Ohio, Ryan Thorne and fiancée, Stephanie of Durham, N.C., Neil Thorne of Fredericksburg, Robert Latham of Sterling, and Janelle Latham Weaver and husband, Brian of Afton; 10 great-grandchildren and 25 nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2010, at West Side Baptist Church with Pastor Troy Pearson and the Rev. Charles Anderson officiating. Burial will follow at Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening at Kyger Funeral Home Chapel in Harrisonburg from 6 to 8 p.m.
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to West Side Baptist Youth Center Fund, 715 W. Wolf St. Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kygers.com.
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