GREENWOOD
Jerry Lee Thorlton, 81, of Greenwood, died Sept. 27, 2017.
He retired from General Motors-Allison Division in 1998 after 24 years of service. Additionally, he held the patent for and owned the Greenwood-based Ventmaster, Inc. He also had worked as a tool designer at Tri Industries in Terre Haute.
Jerry was an avid golfer, bowler, tennis player and fisherman until his health failed. Amazingly, he scored a hole-in-one after he lost the use of his right arm. He was also a Corvette enthusiast, joining the South Central Indiana Corvette Club as a charter member. He was a member of the former Eldorado Country Club. He belonged to the Greenwood United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife/best friend/caregiver, Patricia “Pat,” whom he married
Dec. 23, 1974. Other survivors are children Tina Payne, Jeff (Naomi) Thorlton and Ken (Michael Pratt, m.d.) Thorlton, Jim (Maria Flanagan) Adams and Jon (Angie) Adams. Additional survivors include seven grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, four nephews and Godofredo Borges, m.d, a former exchange student from Brazil.
Born in Terre Haute July 13, 1936, Jerry was predeceased by his parents, Clarence and Esther (Sidenbender) Thorlton, and his brothers, Wayne (Margaret) Thorlton and Ron (Thelma) Thorlton.
Jerry’s memorial service will be Sunday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. at North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, with visitation beginning at 2 p.m.
The Rev. Darren Cushman Wood and the Rev. Richard L. Pickering will preside. The family requests memorial gifts be made to Anatomical Education Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Science Bldg., #5035, 635 Barnhill Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120.
