Helen S. Thorpe

Helen S. Thorpe, 87, of Grace Ridge, Morganton, NC died Thursday, April 27, 2006, at Grace Ridge Health Care Facility following several years of declining health. She was born in Forsyth County, NC on April 20, 1919 and was the daughter of the late Alexander Slawter and Annie Lenora McBride Slawter. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, T. M. Thorpe, Jr. Mrs. Thorpe enjoyed playing bridge, volunteering as a Pink Lady with the Grace Hospital Guild, and was a member of Mimosa Hills Country Club. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, and she had a loving devotion to her family.

Surviving are her daughters and their husbands, Pat and Nolan Coggins of Conover, NC and Kay and Dan Pilley of Huntersville, NC; grandchildren, Kelli Coggins of Atlanta, GA, Brad Pilley and his wife, Jennifer, of Tampa, FL, and Dandy Tomczyk and her husband, Jim, of West Chicago, IL; and great-grandchildren, Ashleigh and Haley Pilley.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 until 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 1, 2006, at Grace Ridge Mezzanine. Private entombment services will be held at Burke Memorial Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690, to the Susan B. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation; or the American Lung Association, 3305-5 16th Ave. S.E. Suite 115, Conover, NC 28613.