Walter Thompson Thorn

Walter Thompson Thorn, 69, husband of Brenda Rice Thorn, of Summerville, entered eternal life on Monday, November 7, 2016, at his home, surrounded by his family. All services will be private. Walter was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, on March 16, 1947. He was a son of the late William Alexander Thorn, Jr. and Marie Thompson Thorn. Having spent his childhood years in Morristown, Tennessee, Walt attended Tennessee Wesleyan College and earned a BS in Agricultural Science at The University of Tennessee, where he was an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. His first job was in sales with Beecham Massengill Pharmaceuticals, Veterinary Division. With an entrepreneurial spirit and healthcare background, Walt and Brenda founded several medical related businesses while living in Raleigh, North Carolina. Those included Walter Thorn Associates, Inc. (a distributorship for US Surgical Corporation) and Respiratory Homecare of NC. In 1979 they attended a medical conference in Charleston and fell in love with the area. In 1980 they moved to the Isle of Palms, then to the Old Village, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Walt founded two medical companies in Charleston, and with Brenda, operated a specialty foods emporium, Trifles, on King Street. Business opportunities took the family to Atlanta, Georgia in 1986, where Walt was vice president of a large medical business. In 1999 Walt and Brenda decided to change course, returned to the Charleston area, and settled on Daniel Island. Walt's entrepreneurial spirit led them to the Hospitality industry. He bought a small transportation company, Absolutely Charleston (a dba of Charleston Transportation Services, Inc.), which has grown from a few vans, to a fleet of Trolleys, Mini Coaches and Sprinter Vans. Additionally, a full-fledged destination management/event planning company, Absolutely Charleston Destination Management, LLC, which has grown into a nationally recognized organization. Both companies, as well as staff, have received the Golden Pineapple Award presented by the Charleston Visitors Bureau. Another offshoot business is Ecosense Global Services, Inc, dba Lightning Bugz, which rents Low Speed Vehicles on the islands. For several years, the family business, Cruise Services USA, Inc, provided shoreside services to several cruise lines in seven ports, including Charleston. Walt was presented multiple awards for excellence in service operations and guest satisfaction by the cruise lines. Ready to begin turning over more business operations to Mark, in July 2016, Walt and Brenda moved to Summerville to be closer to son Mark's family. A descendant of sea captains, Walt shared his love of the water with his son, Mark, and later with the grandchildren. Boating and water sports were their favorite hobbies. Walt's sensitive and caring soul shined with his participation in activities, such as serving as a driver for the Red Cross, assisting the homeless in downtown Charleston, providing transportation for various non- profit organizations and providing support to the Daniel Island Historical Society. His favorite pastime was spending time with the three grandchildren, attending their various sports games, going to movies and traveling on 'Poppy's Great Adventures. Walt is survived by his wife, Brenda Rice Thorn, his son, Christopher Mark Thorn and his wife, Jennifer; his grandchildren, Haley, Lawson and Aiden; his brother, William Alexander Thorn, III and his wife, Marion, of Boone, NC; his sister, Melinda Thorn Mahan of Richmond, Va.; his mother in law, Rosella Lawson Rice; his brother in law, Charles Asher Rice and his wife, Brenda; as well as his nieces and nephews, William David Mahan and his wife, Melissa, Mollie Mahan Bertrand and her husband, Robert, Winborne Thorn Macphail and his wife, Cameron, Mollie Thorn James and her husband, Philip, Matthew Blair Rice and his wife, Ashley and Jessica Rice Dupree and her husband, Justin. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Water Missions International, St. Timothy's Church, 260 Farrell St., Moncks Corner SC 29461, or a charity of one’s choice. Walt's request is that he be remembered by friends and family performing 'random acts of kindness', helping others in big or small ways.