GREENWOOD
William Thorpe Jr., 72, of Greenwood passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on October 24, 2018. He was born in Philadelphia, PA to William H. Sr. and Ruth Elizabeth (Scott) Thorpe. He graduated from Father Judge High School in 1964. Bill proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1966-1971 stationed at Cubi Point in the Philippines. Bill was a graduate of Lock Haven University and Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. He was principal at Pikeside Special Education School in Martinsburg, W.V. and had a passion for serving the special needs community. He assisted in establishing the Special Olympics program in W.V. Bill was the assistant director of IARC and worked for the Indiana State Department of Education in the Special Education Division. For 37 years, Bill served as the assistant director of RISE Special Services, retiring in 2010. As an avid music lover, he enjoyed being a DJ at various events including the annual RISE prom. Bill was a regular contributor to the Southsider Voice newspaper “Car Nutz” column. Bill frequently enjoyed participating in a variety of benefit car shows throughout the years, including World of Wheels. He was preceded in death by his parents. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Lynn Thorpe; daughter, Michelle McFarland; son, Ryan Thorpe; brother, Christian (Alida) Thorpe; sister, Margaret Mary Shank (Michael); 3 loving sister in-laws; 2 loving brother in-laws; granddaughter, Taegan Sage McFarland; several nieces and nephews; and many close car enthusiast fiends who are spread throughout the tri-state area. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 28 from 4:00pm-8:00pm in Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 1977 S. St. Rd 135, Greenwood. A funeral service will be held inside the funeral home on Monday, October 29 at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Angels 4 Taegan/Michelle McFarland P.O. Box 7424, Greenwood, IN 46142-6424 or via www.angels4taegan.com To leave the family online condolences, please visit: www.forestlawncemetery-fh.com 
