Henry Benton Thorpe

HENRY BENTON THORPE JR., 67, DIED PEACEFULLY, SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2001, AT HOME AFTER AN EXTENDED ILLNESS. THORPE WAS BORN ON JAUNARY 4, 1934, THE SON OF HENRY BENTON AND LOUISE THORPE OF ROCKY MOUNT.
BO GRADUATED FROM ROCKY MOUNT SENIOR HIGH IN 1952. HE ATTENDED FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY DURING HIS SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL. BO GRADUATED IN 1956 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NC IN CHAPEL HILL WITH A DEGREE IN RADIO, TELEVISION, AND MOTION PICTURE, HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY IN 1958, ATTAINED THE GRADE OF SERGEANT, THEN RECEIVED A DIRECT COMMISSION AS SECOND LIEUTENANT IN 1960. HIS SPECIAL MILITARY TRAINING INCLUDED THE INFANTRY SCHOOL AND RANGER SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GA, THE INFORMATION SCHOOL AT FORT SIOCUM, NY, AND THE COMMAND & GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE.
BO HAS SERVED IN VARIOUS COMMAN AND STAFF POSITIONS AT FORT BENNING AND AT FORT BRAGG AND SERVED WITH THE 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION (AIRMOBILIE) IN VIETNAM. HIS MANY AWARS AND DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE, PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR WITH “V” DEVICE, AIR MEDAL WITH “V” DEVICE, A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND THE VIETNAMESE CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM.
AFTER CAREERS AS A INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AND OWNER OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM, BO PULLED TOGETHER MUSICIANS AND SINGERS FROM NASHVILLE, TN. THE BAND BEGAIN WITH THE NAME “BO AND GENERATION II” AND MADE ITS DEBUT IN MARCH 1978 IN NEW YORK CITY. THE BAND HAS PLAYED FOR SUCH EVENTS AS THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY BALL, THE KENTUCKY COLONEL’S DERBY BALL, THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY AND FIVE PRESIDENTIAL AND GUBERNATORIAL NATIONAL INAUGURAL BALLS. THE BAND IS CURRENTLY NAMES “BO THORPE AND HIS ORCHESTRA.” BO AND HIS ORCHESTRA TOURED THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS CANADA DOING MORE THAN 60 SHOWS A YEAR. HE AND THE BAND ALSO PLAYED IN THIS NATICE HOMETOWN OF ROCKY MOUNT FOR MANY YEARS AT THE ANNUAL SPRING GERMAN WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY CALLED THE JUNE GERMAN. BO RECENTLY TURNED OVER REINS TO ONE OF HIS BAND MEMBERS RORY PARTIN. BO WAS ABLE TO PERFORM ONE LAST TIME WITH BAND NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE BLOCKAGE RUNNER IN WILMINGTON.
THE FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR LOVE TO THE BAND FOR MANY YEARS OF GREAT MUSIC AND FRIENDSHIP WITH BO.
REMAINING TO REMEMBER HIM AND HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE HIS WIFE, SHARONE THORPE; DAUGHTERS, LISA PIATKOWSKI AND HER HUSBAND, MARK OF ROCKY MOUNT, AND KAREN THORPE OF ROCKY MOUNT: SONS, HENRY BENTON THORPE III, OF TAMPA, FL., AND TONY JOHNSTON AND HIS WIFE, BONNIE OF KILL DEVIL HILLS AND GEORGE THORPE OF ROCKY MOUNT; BROTHER, JAMES A. THORPE AND WIFE, JUNE OF ROCKY MOUNT; SISTERS, JEAN THORPE AND DOROTHY LOUISE THORP AND HUSBAND, RAY BOTH OF ROCKY MOUNT; TWO GRANDCHILDREN, HENRY BENTON THORPE IV AND ASHLEY STAHOL, BOTH OF ROCKY MOUNT; AND MISS SAVANNAH.
FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT 11:00 TUESDAY AT JOHNSON FUNERAL HOME, SUNSET AVENUE, BURIAL WILL FOLLOW AT ROCKY MOUNT MEMORIAL PARK.
VISITATION FROM 7-9PM MONDAY AT JOHNSON FUNERAL HOME AND OTHER TIMES AT THE HOME, 7645 BRIDGEVIEW ROAD, ROCKY MOUNT.
SHARON AND LISA REQUEST THAT FLOWERS FOR BO BE OMITTED, AND INSTEAD BE SEND TO THEIR LOVED ONES BY HIS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OR MAKE A DONATION TO A CHARITY OF THEIR CHOICE IN BO’S MEMORY. THEIR ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION AND THANKS TO ALL THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN SO WONDERFUL AND SUPPORTIVE DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
ARRANGEMENTS BY JOHNSON FUNERAL HOME, ROCKY MOUNT.