Dean Williams Thorburn

April 7, 1931 - Dec.26, 2018

Dean, 87, was born in the Punxsutawney, PA Hospital—the town of groundhog fame, to Leland and Sara Williams Thorburn. He grew up and attended school in Clymer, PA, a small coal mining town about 70 miles East of Pittsburgh. His Grandfather immigrated from Lanark, Scotland, so Dean was proud of his heritage and a bagpiper was the only request he made for his Celebration of Life Service.

By trade and talent Dean was an engineer with a degree in Industrial Engineering from Penn State. Later he also received a MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Dean entered the Navy after college graduation and would jokingly say he was in charge of a LSD (large steel desk). He was an Ordnance officer stationed in Hawthorne, NV, for two years. His last year he was transferred to the Naval Ordnance Plant in Indianapolis, IN, where he met and married “Eve” (Eva Ellis) on March 2, 1956. They were blessed with two children—Mindy Collier (Glen) who lives in Phoenix and Jeffrey who lives in Greenville, S. C. They have had the pleasure of seeing 5 grandchildren grow up and take their place in the world. Jack and Kendall Collier live in Phoenix; Michael Thorburn lives in Raleigh, N.C., Tyler and Mackenzie Thorburn live in Tampa, FL. Dean thought surely one of his family would become an engineer and he got his wish when Granddaughter Kendall Collier graduated from the UofA this Spring magna cum laude with an engineering degree. She says Grandpa was her inspiration.

Dean retired from Hughes Aircraft, Tucson, AZ, and enjoyed many hobbies—silversmithing, woodworking, traveling and photography. We all miss him terribly—his quiet ways, dry sense of humor, quick wit and thoughtfulness. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Jane Thorburn Cupples (Jim)

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 5th at 2:00 pm at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6565 E. Broadway, Tucson, AZ.