Lionel “Dickie” Thorpe, passed away on November 12, 2018 at the age of 78. Lionel was born the fifth child out of seven children on July 10, 1940 to Mr. Frank and Dora Lee Thorpe, both whom preceded him in death. Dickie had three sisters Emma, Ethel and Dorothy, and three brothers Frank, Raymond and James Thomas, all whom preceded him in death.

Born and raised in down town St. Louis Dickie attended Franklin Elementary and Hadley Technical High known today as Vashon High School. He played football in high school and went to the 12th grade, but did not graduate due to having to help his mom and dad with the bills. Lionel held a few jobs before settling with the Hostess, Continental Baking Company. He worked there for over 30 years until his retirement, during which time he met a beautiful young lady named Patricia Ann “Pat” Hill, whom he knew one day he would make his wife. Dickie and Pat’s date of Holy Matrimony is December 26, 1962. From their union came six beautiful children Anthony Ricardo, Adrienne, Lionel Jr. “Noonie,” Harriet Yvonne, Albert Quentin and Joy Christy. His wife and first born preceded him in death.

In loving memory of our father and grandfather, Dickie, also affectionately known to his grandchildren as Poppy. Not only was he the loving and faithful Dad, he possessed these qualities as a son. Not a day went by that he did not visit his mother in the nursing home for the 10 years that she lived there. Setting a lasting and good impression on the workers that were to give care to his mother for the rest of her life. Our Dad, the gentle giant, was a social being with a loving and caring nature. He still attended union meetings and functions after being retired for over 20 years. Going to the grocery stores became his pastime and might I say hobby, sometimes shopping, but definitely buying lottery tickets and for simply socializing with other retirees. Even before his death he was missed at these places, because others missed his presence and began to ask about him. He was someone who was easy to talk to and he made sure to send everyone their holiday cards. Those cards he sent us will truly be missed. Daddy loved his family and friends and enjoyed sharing stories about his childhood and discussing current events. Our hearts will long for him, but in his own words he said that he was “ready” and for us not to cry. So, don’t be sad for Lionel, instead let us celebrate the life that he has lived and the times that he has shared with us. Let us imagine that Pat has called for him and they are forever together once again and are saving a place in paradise for us all. Let us keep in our hearts and minds the warm memories of Lionel’s laugh and long breathless conversations.

Lionel leaves behind three generations to carry on his Legacy of Love. Five children, Adrienne (Darryl) Latham, Lionel Jr. (Ronetta) Thorpe, Yvonne(Victor) Langston, Albert Q. Thorpe and Joy (Allen) McCarter; fifteen grandchildren, Darrian and Darby; Michael, Sylva and Syrell; Jana, Alayna and Keira; Anthony and Alexander; MiJoi, Myric, Myson, Mykel and Million and five great grandchildren: Syniah, Kennedy, Kori, Kobi and Kourtney. From his marriage with Pat his sister and brother-in-law Harriette and Whitney “Rohill”; his two nieces who hold a special place in his heart Lisa and Rose “Rede”; his nephew Dan “Bobo” who always came when he called to lend a helping hand, and a host of other loving family and friends.

My Daddy

Tears rolled down my face as I thought of the words to put down on paper just to give others a glimpse of who you are to me.

My first teacher, I smile as I think of him being my “Google” when I was a child. He knew “eeeeverything.” I remember always saying, “My Daddy said…” If my Daddy said it — It was so. Everything I asked he knew! How wonderful is that? As I grew into an adult I still asked questions, mostly political ones though and you still had the answers. I Love you Daddy. I know you told me not to cry, but it’s hard holding back tears that want to come pouring out. I want to scream and I want to shout – but I won’t. I Love you Daddy. Oh! how I want you to hear those words from me again. I know you know.

The moment that you died my heart was torn to pieces.

You said do not cry.

I tried, I tried, —

I cried.

Forgive me. I tried.

I Love you Daddy.

I told you he knew everything. He told me he wasn’t going to make it (out of the hospital). That’s the only time in my whole entire life that I did not believe what my Daddy said. I’ll always remember the piggy back rides down the stairs after our morning conversations. Me standing on the toilet seat to get to his height and Daddy in the mirror brushing his teeth, washing his face, putting in his contacts, shaving his beard and trimming his mustache and using that little white chalk looking stick whenever he nicked himself. He did all this while answering my thousand questions. I Love you Daddy. Thank you for the fond memories. Whenever we road in the car (Electric 225, the “Deuce and a Quarter”) it was “History Lesson 101 for the City of St. Louis and his past. When we use to go to the River Front to watch the fireworks (before it was called the VP Fair), I thought my Daddy was the coolest for knowing the secret way to avoid the traffic because we always had a good parking spot.

My Daddy answered all my “Google” questions except for, “How do you spell…?” He never would tell the spelling of any words. He would always say, “Go look it up in the dictionary.” My reply, “How can I look it up if I don’t know how to spell it? My Daddy was smart; he knew I could do it. Thank you, Daddy. I learned so much from you. I’ll miss our talks. I’m 49 years young (smile), I have three children, and retired after 20 years of military life and I even have a wonderful husband – and still I wonder, “What am I going to do without you?” I know and understand that I’m going to be alright because I had great teacher, an awesome teacher, the best teacher ever! You taught me about God, our Creator, The Alpha and The Omega! …and He is my strength. Thank you and I Love you Daddy.

Always,

Yvonne

P.S.

Your Darling

Daughter

(That’s what he called me)

GOD SAW YOU GETTING TIRED

God saw you getting tired,

and a cure was not to be,

So He put His arms around you

And whispered, “Come with me.”

With tearful eyes we watched

you slowly fade away.

Although we loved you dearly,

We would not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Your hard-working hands put to rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.