Van Noy Thornhill

Van Noy Thornhill, 89, of Charleston, South Carolina, husband of Jane Larsen Lucas Thornhill entered into eternal rest Sunday, March 31, 2013. His Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, April 3, 2013 in St. Michael's Church at 3:00 pm with a reception to follow in the parish hall. Interment, churchyard with Military Honors.

Van Noy was born in Charleston, April 19, 1923. He was the son of the late Theodore Wilbur Thornhill and Ama Van Noy Smith Thornhill. He attended the public schools of Charleston and Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA. He graduated from Clemson University in 1948 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was president of the Senior Class and President of the Senior Council. He was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He lettered in track, was a Block C member and member of the Student's Basketball Organization. He worked during the holidays and summers throughout his high school and college years in his family's oil business, and in 1948 began full-time work with the Charleston Oil Co. He volunteered to serve his country in the Army on December 9, 1942 while a sophomore student at Clemson.

He was sworn in as a member of the enlisted reserve corps at Clemson in which he served until June of that year when the entire sophomore class was inducted into active service at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. From there he went to Engineer Replacement training at Fort Belvoir, and as a trainee was awarded the Outstanding Performance Award for his training battalion. After the initial training, he was appointed to OCS (Officer Candidate School) and graduated April 4, 1944 at which time he joined the 178th Engineer's Combat Battalion, serving with this unit for the two years in Europe under General Patton in the 3rd Army.

While in the E.T.O. (European Theatre of Operations), he participated in the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge. In well-below freezing temperatures, heavy snow and engaged with the enemy, his unit crossed the Rhine River four times, building two bridges at night. On February 19, 1944, he was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism for constructing a bridge over the Orr River. He reverted to Reserve Status on July 28, 1946.

He completed the Engineer Advanced College and is a 1962 graduate of Command & General Staff School of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and President of Reserve Officer's Association Chapter III, retiring from service with the rank of colonel. Colonel Thornhill was well-known in the Charleston community and has served in many organizations. He was President of the "Committee of 30", a tourist promotion group under the Chamber of Commerce. He worked on United Fund in the advanced Gift Division, was Chairman of Christmas Seal Campaign for T.B. Association in 1965, YMCA Membership Committee, Solicitation Committee for Junior Achievement Program in Charleston, President of SC Oil Jobbers Association in 1967, elected SC Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner in 1970. In 2001, he was selected as outstanding Soil District Commissioner of the year for SC and designated as a life member.

Van Noy was a senior member of St. Andrews Society, New England Society, Honorary Life Member of Hibernian Society, The Society of Colonial Wars, Carolina Yacht Club, Agricultural Society of South Carolina, Charleston Club, Chairman of Board of Fire Masters for 16 years, former member of Charleston Rotary Club and life member of National Rifle Association. Colonel Thornhill enjoyed farming and sailing and was an avid sportsman. He was a founding and life member of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, a member of National Turkey Foundation and of Ducks Unlimited. Col. Thornhill was a follower of Christ and a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church where he served on the Building and Maintenance Committee.

Van Noy married the former Jane Larsen Lucas of Charleston. They have three children, John Gadsden Thornhill (Laurie Minges), Jane Thornhill Schachte (Joseph), and Theodore Wilbur Thornhill, II (Ann Winston Smith), six grandchildren and two great grandsons. Van Noy has one brother, Thomas E. Thornhill.

Memorials may be made to Clemson University Foundation, P.O. Box 1889, Clemson, SC 29633, IPTAY, PO Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29633, St. Michael's Church 71 Broad Street, Charleston, SC, 29401, South Carolina Soil and Water Conservation District, 2070 Northbrook Blvd. Suite A-8, N. Charleston, SC 29406-9253, South Carolina Waterfowl Association, 9833 Old River Road Pinewood, SC 29125 or to a charity of one's choice.

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.