Rev. Stephen R. Thorn, age 69, of Tucson, AZ., formerly of Somerton (N.E. Phila.), Columbus, OH and Wheeling, WV,  passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at the Veterans Administration Tucson Medical Center Hospice Unit, surrounded by several family members and his best friend. The cause of death was cardiac arrest due to underlying metastatic cancer.  Prior to his final illness, Steve had resided for the past several years at St. Luke's Home in Tucson.

At the time of his death, Steve had been placed on VA Agent Orange full (100%) service connected disability arising out of his prior U.S. Army military service in Vietnam during 1967 and 1968.  Steve was justifiably proud of his honorable service to his Country with the United States Army (“ A " BTRY, 2d BN, 94th ARTY), while stationed at Camp J.J. Carroll, near both the DMZ and Khe Sanh, in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, as a result of which he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant ( E-5 ) and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (ACM) for meritorious service in combat. 

Steve was a 1965 graduate of Father Judge H.S. in Phila. and was a 1992 graduate of World Harvest Bible College ( now called Valor Christian College )  in Columbus, OH.  After completing his military service, Steve worked for several companies in N.E. Phila., including the former Fred Hill Co. and United Refrigeration Co., and later worked for a period of time in Phoenix, AZ., before deciding to attend bible college in Columbus, OH, upon graduation from which both he and his wife Lorna were ordained as ministers. For the next twenty years or so thereafter, together with his late wife Lorna Long Thorn, Steve served as a minister / worship leader at several Bible - based Christian congregations in Columbus, OH., Wheeling, WV and Tucson, AZ.  

Steve was predeceased by his beloved wife, Lorna Long Thorn, who passed away in 2010, by his parents, William J. Thorn, Jr and Mary J. Thorn, and by his older brother Joseph F. Thorn.  Steve is survived by his seven brothers and sisters : William J. Thorn III (Joanne), John T. Thorn (Janet), Mary J. Miller (Charles), Elizabeth Anne Mc Donnell (Ronald), Kathleen M. Peterson (Wayne), Joanne M. Alexander (Richard) and Carol Anne White (James),  and by numerous nieces and nephews.  Steve is also survived by his good friend and fellow Army veteran Richard Olafson of Tucson, to whom Steve's family owes a special debt of gratitude for his countless selfless acts of kindness and for always being there to help our brother Steve .  

Steve's memorial funeral service and burial with full military honors at the Washington Crossing National Veterans Cemetery in Newtown, PA are private. 

In lieu of flowers, his family respectfully requests that memorial contributions in Steve's honor be donated to : St. Luke's Home, 615 E. Adams Street, Tucson, AZ  85705  (Attn : Beverly Heasley, CEO : " In Memory of Stephen R. Thorn ").