James Z. Thorpe

James Z. Thorpe, 80, of 1006 Garren Creek Road, Fairview, died Thursday, October 2, 2003, at the VA Medical Center. A native of Buncombe County, he was a son of the late John Z. and Ann Phipps Thorpe. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Estelle Moore and Eva Radford. He was a Navy Veteran of WWII and retired from Sayles Biltmore Bleachery after 40 years of service. After his retirement he worked with his sons in construction. He was a faithful member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife of 61 years, Evelyn Gregory Thorpe; a daughter, Ina Treadway and her husband Robert of Daytona Beach, FL; four sons, Jim Thorpe and his wife Jennifer of Fletcher, Jerry Thorpe and his wife Tina of Asheville, Danny Thorpe of Fairview and Dean Thorpe and his wife Kathy of Fairview; a brother, Carl Thorpe of Asheville; four sisters, Mary Goforth of Fairview, Vivian Owenby of Broad River, Margaret Hall of Gaffney, SC and Elizabeth Garrison of Black Mountain; fifteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Sunday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with the Pastor Jim Whitted and Rev. Chester Owenby officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. His family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 pm Saturday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue and request that memorials be made to the James Z. Thorpe Memorial Fund, 1683 Hwy 74, Fairview, NC 28730.