Martha J. Thorington

Martha (Marty) Thorington died peacefully on October 20, 2023, surrounded by her husband and children into whom she had poured so much love. She was 88. She is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years, Taylor Thorington, and her children, John Thorington (Sherri) and Laura Bolan (Tommy). She is also survived by her grandchildren Jeffrey Bolan, Greg Bolan, Bradley Bolan, Emily Thorington and Kate Thorington. She was preceded in death by parents, Herb and Edna Schaier, her sister, Marlene Gibbs, and by her infant granddaughter, Amy Elizabeth Bolan.

Marty was born on April 5, 1935, in Norwood, Massachusetts. She graduated from Norwood High School in 1953 and the Chamberlain School of Retailing two years later. Marty and Taylor were married on September 17, 1955. They lived in Birmingham, Alabama from 1956 until 1969 where their two children were born and then moved to Tampa.

The marriage of Marty and Taylor, and the depth of their love and commitment to one another, have blessed and impacted multiple generations and have honored the Lord. Marty was an incredible wife and mother who was wholly committed to her family. “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:28).

Marty was known for her compassionate, loving, nurturing, caring personality. Her family was greatly blessed by this, as were all who knew her. She deeply loved her church, Palma Ceia Methodist, where she was active for over 50 years. She had a beautiful, profound child-like Christian faith, and as an outpouring of that faith she would greatly encourage others. She would often say to her family, “God just spoke to me, and He said, God will take care of you”. Her grieving family rejoices in knowing where she is, for as the Scripture says, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”.

A memorial service is scheduled for January 2, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Palma Ceia Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Palma Ceia Methodist Church (3723 W. Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa, FL 33629, palmaceiamethodist.org). Condolences can be sent to blountcurrymacdill.com. The family would like to express its gratitude to Almighty God for the life of our wife, mother and grandmother, and we would also like to thank Him for the incredible caregiving support provided by Suncoast Hospice and Discovery Village of Westchase.