Carlton R. Thorne

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 on Wednesday, November 15 at the Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg. A visitation period will be held from 11:00 until the time of the service. Burial will be private.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Fitchburg Military Band, 863 West Rd., Ashby, MA 01431 or St. Jude’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105



 

Lunenburg- Carlton R. Thorne, 86, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 30 at the Apple Valley Center in Ayer. Mr. Thorne was born in Boston on December 5, 1930 a son of the late Carroll B. and Agnes (Rooney) Thorne and resided in Lunenburg for many years. He survived by his wife of sixty three years, Ellen W. (Stephens) Thorne, one daughter, Susan Thorne Gagnon and her husband Robert of North Chelmsford, grandchildren, Joshua Thorne and his wife Kimberly, Jennifer Thorne and Tracy Thorne, great grandchildren, Nora, Caleb and Keghan. Mr. Thorne is predeceased by his son Stephen Thorne and his twin brother Carroll Thorne Jr. Carlton is a graduate of Lowell State College ( currently UMASS at Lowell) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Education from Bridgewater State College. Mr. Thorne was employed at the Bourne Public School System as Director of Music from 1953 to 1963. He was then the Director of Music as well as Band and Chorus Director for the Fitchburg Public School System from 1963 to 1991. Mr. Thorne was the conductor of the Fitchburg Military Band for thirty six years. He was a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 173 and also served on their Board of Directors. He performed as a free lance musician playing the saxophone and clarinet in swing bands, concert bands and pit orchestras. In his retirement, Mr. Thorne enjoyed teaching private saxophone and clarinet lessons to many students.