Robert J. Thorp

Robert “Bob” J. Thorp

1/22/1932 to 9/19/2025

Robert John Thorp age, of Charlton, MA died on September 19, 2025 at the Overlook.

He was born January 22, 1932 in Connecticut to Walter and Viola Thorp.  He was born at home in Norwich.   He married Joan Miller on April 11, 1953.  He worked as a dairy farmer and at Arbor Acres in Connecticut, Newhouse Farms in Maine. He was a member of the Federated Church in Charlton, MA.  He was a member of the Lions Club and a Deacon. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, and one sister. He is survived by his three sons, Dwight Thorp of Pittsfield, ME; Chuck Thorp and his wife Mary of Yarmouth, ME; Bob Thorp and his wife Kelley of Fuquay-Varina NC; two daughters, Sharon Kennington and her husband John of Bixby, OK; Gail Thorp of Siloam Springs, AR; 9 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild;  one sister Shirley Green of Port Richey, FL; and one sister-in-law Hannelore Thorp of Norridgewock, ME.

Funeral services will be on Monday, October 6th at 10 am at the Great Room at The Overlook, 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA 01507. Refreshments will follow at the Overlook.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Overlook Scholarship Fund at the Overlook Community 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA 01507.

An online guest book is available at Sansoucy Funeral Home.

History of Robert J. Thorp

Bob grew up on a dairy farm so getting up early to be in the barn at 4 am created a life long habit.  His family moved to Coventry, CT when he started third grade in the one room school with a wood stove and many grades.  He met his future wife Joan Miller in Sunday School and they attended 5th through 8th grade together.  They went to different high schools as they lived in opposite ends of town.  Although they had a few dates they both dated many others not getting serious until Joan was in nursing school and Bob was in the Air Force during the Korean War.

They married on 4/11/1953 and lived in Geneva, NY (near Sampson Air Base).  Joan worked as an RN in the local hospital for $1.24 an hour.  Bob worked as an Airman First Class at $212 a month.  Their first son Dwight was born in Geneva.

Bob joined his Dad and brother Walter Jr. on the dairy farm where the next three children were born while Joan worked part-time as a nurse.  Bob and Joan realized that living in poverty with 4 children was not ideal.  Although Bob had no poultry knowledge or skills Arbor Acres realized he had management skills and offered him a starting job. Joan had their fifth child at this time.  After a year he was promoted to Farm Manager in North Stonington, CT at a poultry breeder farm with 75 employees.  Three years later he was offered the General Manager position in Skowhegan, ME.   It was a wonderful small town where they lived for 24 years.  Bob and Joan were both active in the Congregational Church.  Joan was a head nurse in the local hospital. 

Although Bob had no knowledge of banking he was asked to be on a local Savings Bank Board.  This opened many opportunities as Bob and Joan attended National Bank Conventions all over the US.   However after 7 years, Bob looked for other challenges, worked for other poultry companies, and subsequently returned to Arbor Acres in Glastonbury, CT.    So after 24 years in Maine, Bob and Joan moved back to Connecticut.

Arbor Acres offered Bob a job in technical service traveling to foreign countries and meeting with customers mostly in the Pacific as that was a heavily populated poultry area.  Bob had suffered a mild stroke and his family doctor suggested he start running.  Although Joan questioned it, Bob started running early every morning.  Bob and Joan lived near Manchester which held a Thanksgiving Day 5 mile race so he decided to try it.   After a few years, Bob decided he wanted to win his age group over 70.  Although there were 80 to 100 other runners over 70, Bob was able to win 4 years in a row!   This encouraged Bob to run in the 50 something countries that he was working in.   Although a long story, Bob had plenty of memories.  Bob continued running until he was 80 and living at the Overlook.  Bob and Joan moved to the Overlook in 2008 where they enjoyed 18 wonderful years.  

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