Joan F. Thorndyke

Joan F. Thorndyke of Olivet, Michigan, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at her home with her loving family at her side. Joan was born May 19, 1925 in Martin, Michigan the daughter of Dewey and Ida (Walin) DeVine and had been a resident of the Marshall/Olivet area for 85 years. She was a lifelong Seamstress having started at age 3 and continued until a month before she passed away. She had sewed for many NASCAR drivers including Dale Earnhardt. She had also served as an Olivet Schools Bus Driver and prior to that had worked as a Telephone Operator. She was an active Girl Scout Leader for 11 years traveling with them to Girl Scout birthplace, Savannah, GA and also Myrtle Beach, Chicago and Hawaii. She had been a member of the O.E.S and had helped with the Civil Air Patrol. She had volunteered with the USO Club in Battle Creek and was a licensed Pilot having owned and flew her own airplane. She is survived by: her children, Joann (Gary) Chapman, Jim (Donna) Thorndyke, John (Kay) Thorndyke, Jay (Jean) Thorndyke, Jacqulyn Thorndyke, Jill Jacox and Jed (Sonia) Thorndyke; 17 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Thorndyke; brothers, Dewey (Sonny) DeVine and William (Bill) DeVine; grandson, Brian West and great granddaughter Kate Lynn Thorndyke. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor Scott Brood officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday from 6-8 PM at the Funeral Home. Interment in the Bosworth Cemetery Olivet. Memorial contributions may go to the Olivet Volunteer Fire Department, Olivet MI 49076 or the Bellevue/Olivet Girl Scouts, 6516 S. Ainger Rd., Olivet, MI 49076. www.burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com