Oct. 4, 1916 - May 1, 2009

ELKHART -- Viola Estella Thorpe, 92, of Elkhart, died at 1:25 a.m. Friday (May 1, 2009) at Riverside Village Healthcare Center in Elkhart, of natural causes.

She was born Oct.. 4, 1916, in Elkhart to Leroy and Pearl (Molebush) Gay. On May 11, 1932, she married Leonard "Dean" Thorpe in Elkhart. He died Aug. 29, 1975.

Mrs. Thorpe is survived by a son, Carlton (ElDonna) Thorpe of Elkhart; three daughters, Madonna Shaw of Osceola, Carolyn (Bill) Freehling of Brentwood and Cathy Eppard of St. Joseph, Mich.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and two sisters, Helen Gilbert of Elkhart and Beverly Newland of South Bend.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Irene McClammer.

Mrs. Thorpe was a homemaker and worked at the general store at Simonton Lake when she was younger. She enjoyed camping with her family, cooking, gardening and making candles.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Billings Funeral home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. A 9:30 a.m. Tuesday procession will begin at the funeral for the 10 a.m. graveside service to be held at Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart.

Memorials may be given to the Arthritis Foundation, Northern Indiana Chapter, P.O. Box 8345, South Bend, IN 46600. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.