Charles Ellington "Charlie" Thorne, age 88, of Rocky Mount, passed away on Monday, August 22, 2016. Born in Nash County on October 19, 1927, he was the son of the late Spencer T. Thorne and Anne Cox Thorne. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Lois Johnson Thorne; brothers, Dr. Edward Young Cox Thorne; and Spencer T. Thorne, Jr.; and sister, Sarah T. Connelly.

He is survived by his daughters, Terri Darby of Zebulon, Susan Tanner and her husband, Jimmy, of Rocky Mount, and Cathy Sutton of Red Oak; his son, Chuck Thorne of Nashville; four grandchildren; two great-grandsons, Alexander Garris and Carson Cook.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 100 South Church Street, Rocky Mount with Pastor Jim Bell officiating. A committal service will follow at Rocky Mount Memorial Park in the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum. The family will receive friends and relatives on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 from7-9 p.m. at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 100 South Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 or Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 7011 Thurston-Bowles Bldg., Chapel Hill, NC 27599.

Arrangements by Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Rocky Mount.