Fred Lee Thorp

Fred L. Thorp, 74, of Shawnee, KS, passed away April 15, 2011 at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Merriam, KS. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, at the Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, KS. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Gideons International or Calvary Bible College and Seminary.

Fred was born March 7, 1937, in Kansas City, Kansas, Wyandotte County. A graduate from Wyandotte High School Class of 1955, he served in the Kansas National Guard from 1955-1964. He retired December 31, 1994, from the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department after 34 years, retiring as Assistant Chief in charge of Emergency Medical Services. (KARE). Fred was in the first EMICT class in the state of Kansas, and was the only Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department. He earned his Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from Park University in 1990, was an Adjunct Professor at Park University, Senior Fire Service Management, from 1990 to 1996, Past Governor of Kansas District Optimists from 1981 to 1982. Fred attended Seminary Calvary Bible College in 2002, was Ordained into the ministry on July 29, 2001, served as Chaplain for the Lenexa Police Department from 2004 to 2009, as Chaplain Juvenile Detention Center of Johnson County Kansas from 2004 to 2010, and as Volunteer Preacher of Lansing Correctional Center from 2004 to 2007. Fred had published Articles in Responder Magazine, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and Fire Chief Magazine. He was Responder Magazine, Tampa Florida Associate Editor and Educational Division Coordinator. Fred took Active Leadership with the “Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast” for 28 years, was Chairman of Wyandotte County Christian Business Men’s Committee for 30 years. He was a Member of Gideons International from 1972 to 2001. Fred was also a Member of Calvary Baptist Church, where he was an instructor for the Senior Adult Sunday School Class for 3 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Jack Thorpe, Jr., and Noma Evelyn (Fairow) Thorp, and his granddaughter Rachel Leeanne Hylton.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years: Ruth E. Thorp of the home; children:

Walter N. Thorp, of Yorktown, VA, Keith A. Paulson-Thorp, of Del Ray Beach, FL and Rebecca L. Hylton, of Roland, IA; siblings: Douglas Thorp of Mililani, Hawaii, Jackie Sue Wall of Shreveport, LA and Rosie Williams of KCK;

grandchildren: Thomas Thorp, Josie Thorp, Neals Paulson-Thorp, Glen Dale Hylton Jr., Faith Evelyn Hylton and Jacob N. Hylton and great-grandchildren: Hayden Thorp, Kyus Thorp and Isaac Thorp.