Horace "Smitty" Thorne, III of Mobile, Alabama went to see his Heavenly Father on Saturday, April 10, 2021. Born on December 16, 1946 in Panama City, Florida. He was proceeded in death by his father, and mother, Horace S. Thorne, Jr. and Martha Ellis Thorne of Panama City, Florida. Smitty was a resident of Mobile, Alabama for the last twenty years.
He leaves behind his beloved wife of 35 years, Earline Van Haelen Thorne. Children: Michele Brown, James Frederick Thorne, Victoria Thorne Young (Neal Young), Pamela Skeath (Christian Skeath), Jeffrey Orkus (Rebecca Orkus). Grandchildren: Harrison, Chloe and Cooper Brown; Evie Young; Cayce (Samantha Skeath), Emma Skeath; Ashley, William, Lofton and Sarah Orkus. Great granddaughter Reagan Skeath. Brothers: Grady Thorne (Laquita Thorne) and Philip Thorne (Elaine Thorne).
Smitty was the Retired Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Alabama State Port Authority, formerly Regional Vice President of Ryan Walsh Stevedoring and Port Manager for Jackson Kearney. He was honored at the end of his 45 year career as the 2017 Propeller Club Port of Mobile Maritime Person of the Year.
He was on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Maritime Club, Board of Directors for the Gulf National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico and on the Board of the Seaman's Foundation. Member of the Men of Saint Joseph, Eucharistic Minister, and a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
He proudly served 11 years in the United States Army Reserve from 1964 - 1975.
December 16, 1946 ~ April 10, 2021 (age 74)
Visitation will be on Monday April 19, 2021 from 9:00am - 11:00am with Catholic Mass to follow at Corpus Christi Catholic Church located at 6300 McKenna Drive in Mobile.
