Joseph Carl Thornwall

Joseph Carl Thornwall, 86, passed away May 14, 2012 in Boonsboro, Maryland at the Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village after a short illness.

Mr. Thornwall was born February 1, 1926 in Topeka, Kansas son of Joseph W. Thornwall and Katie Eva (Lesser) Thornwall. He grew up in Topeka and graduated from Seaman High School in 1944. Joseph joined the Navy 2 weeks before his 18th birthday on January 25, 1944. He went through basic training and radio school at Farragut Naval Training station in Idaho and became a first class radioman. He was stationed in Tillamook, Oregon and on the tugboat USS Bagaduce in San Francisco California. After the war, Joseph attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas from 1946 until graduated in August 1950 with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He married Betty Ann Strimple on August 18, 1950 in Topeka.

He worked for the CIA from 1950 to 1961 & from 1968-1981 and NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center from 1961-1968 He then worked for Quest Research Corp from 1981 to 1995. For his job he traveled in Europe, Iran and Asia. He also lived in Cyprus for 2 years and Germany for over 2 years. Joseph retired in 1995. He lived in the Washington D.C. area over 58 years. Over his lifetime he also enjoyed woodworking, computers, ham radio, flying, gardening, sail boating, camping, playing the recorder & trombone, baking bread, and horseback riding.

He is survived by 3 sons, Randy, Daryl and Greg, and 4 grandchildren, Megan, Jenna, Elizabeth and Carl. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years and his brother Donald Lee Thornwall.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery & Mausoleum. Mr. Thornwall will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel after 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday and visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.