Graveside memorial service for Mr. Bobby Austin Thorpe, age 80, of Fayetteville, will be conducted Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 10 a.m. in Higgins Cedar Hills Memorial Gardens. Mr. Thorpe passed away Friday, September 11, 2015 at his residence.
Mr. Thorpe was a native of Obion County, TN, the son of the late Thomas Austin Thorpe and Helon Woodard. He worked for Goodyear Tire as a Quality Control Inspector for 27 years and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. After retiring and moving to Fayetteville, Mr. Thorpe placed an ad for his chair bottoming abilities. This ad brought him more work than he expected. He stayed busy bottoming chairs for local customers as long as his health allowed. He had perfected many techniques, using many different materials. Among the many chairs that he acquired were antique jury box chairs from the old Huntsville Courthouse, and a chair he purchased from Davis Hardware, now Marbles Merchantile. Along with repairing and selling cane chairs, he also made award winning hand woven baskets that were usually given as gifts.
Survivors include his wife Dion Kemp Thorpe of Fayetteville, daughters Patrice Antoinette “Toni” Sanford of Union City, TN, Andrea Lyn Draper of Fairview, TN, 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Along with his parents, Mr. Thorpe was preceded in death by sisters Annie Thorpe Mefford and Barbara T. Freeland.
There will be no visitation prior to the service.
Higgins Funeral Home is assisting the family of Mr. Bobby Austin Thorpe.