Eric Gordon Thorson

Eric G. Thorson, age 92, of Little Rock passed away on July 13, 2010 after a short illness. Eric was born August 21, 1917, in Geneva, Illinois, the son of Eric and Laura Thorson. He and Marion Johnson were married on May 9th, 1942, in St. Charles, Illinois. Eric was a graduate of the Geneva Community High School. He graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in 1941. He and Marion were members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Illinois. He was a Lieutenant-Commander in the US Navy, followed by a distinguished career as a Civil Engineer for the State of Illinois working in the Highway Department. After retirement Eric started his own company "Thorson and Associates" an engineering firm specializing in highway and roadway construction. In his military career, Eric served in the US Navy as an aerial navigator in the South Pacific and also as Commander of the Naval Pre-flight School in Northfield, Minnesota. Eric and his family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1997 in order to be closer to Marion's brother Frank Johnson and his family. Eric was a supporter of the Special Olympics, an organization in which his daughter, Holly, participated. He, Marion and Holly traveled the world and were especially fond of traveling North America in their motor-home. Eric is preceded in death by his daughter Hollis Ann, his wife Marion and his sister Luella Sargent of Tampa, Florida. He is survived by his brother Lloyd Thorson of Vienna, Austria and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will take place at Faith Lutheran Church, 7525 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Ark., (501) 666-0850, on Saturday July 17, 2010 at 2 p.m. Honor Guard Burial Service will follow immediately thereafter at Pine Crest Memorial Park. Reverend Carl Hoffman will preside. Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics organization or Faith Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, (501) 224-2200. Visit the online guestbook at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.