Kendall Thorington Was Veteran of World War II

Kendall Sowles Thorington of Oak Bluffs died peacefully after a long illness on Sept. 17 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital.

Born on August 1, 1919, in Roxbury, Vt., he was the son of James Wallace Thorington Sr. and Madeleine Sowles. He was raised in Roxbury and Northfield, Vt., graduating from Northfield High School with high honors. He received a scholarship to the University of Vermont and was graduated from the Vermont Agricultural College in Randolph in 1938.

After living in Baltimore, Md., for a brief period he enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1945 and for several more years with the U.S. Naval Reserves. During his initial enlistment he achieved the rank of chief petty officer (machinist's mate). He served honorably in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres, primarily on the USS Denebola, receiving a battle star for World War II service. While home ported in Casco Bay of Portland, Me., he participated in several major efforts including the North Atlantic, the invasion of Southern France, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands and Eniwetok. He was part of a potential invasion force preempted by the surrender of Japan.

He married Doris Champney on May 9, 1945, and just celebrated 60 years of marriage.

After World War II they moved to Moretown, Vt., and lived in that area until 1980. He retired from the Vermont Department of Agriculture in 1980 and moved to Oak Bluffs, where he lived the remainder of his long and devoted life.

During his long and active life several achievements, recognitions and areas of service should be noted. For military service, he received a diploma of recognition from the French Defense Ministry, is registered in the United States Navy Memorial and received a certificate of appreciation for World War II service from the American Legion. He served as the superintendent of the Vermont State Hospital Dairy Farm for several years prior to retirement. He is a past member of the Waterbury, Vt., Knights of Columbus and since retirement has been an active member of Sacred Heart Parish in Oak Bluffs and served as an Eucharistic minister.

During his lifetime, Kendall enjoyed hunting, fishing and skiing. He also studied the Civil War history of his great-grandfather, Theodore B. Kendall, a Civil War veteran, who had a strong influence during his childhood years.

Kendall Thorington was devoted to his family and this cannot be overstated. He was loved by all who knew him for his kindness, acceptance, loyalty, steadfast support, selfless love and a hand reaching out toward others, and so many other qualities made yet more apparent by his passing.

Kendall is survived by his wife, Doris Thorington of Oak Bluffs; his son, Paul Thorington, and his wife, Gloria, of Concord, N.H.; two grandsons, Andrew Thorington and his wife, Renee Thorington, of Saco, Me., and Brandt Thorington in graduate school at George Washington University, and a great-grandson, Luc Thorington of Saco, Me. He also has a half-brother, Charles Hedrick of Noble, Me., and several nieces and nephews and their children. He was predeceased by his sisters, Lucia Ladd and Sylvia Breck, and brother, James W. Thorington Jr.

His Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church on Massasoit avenue in Oak Bluffs on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m. Interment service with military honors will be in the VA National Cemetery in Bourne on Wednesday sharply at 1:45 p.m.

Visiting hours will be held in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, send donations to either the Salvation Army, the Red Cross or the Vineyard Nursing Association, P.O. Box 2568, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.