Neva Okes Thorn, 88, of the Manor in Niles, OH died in St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center, Youngstown, OH on Monday, October 10, 2011 at 12:30AM. Neva was born in Dunns, WV on June 30, 1923, the daughter of J.M. and Mertie (Lilly) Okes. She spent her young life in Red Oak Ridge, Bluefield, WV and moved to Princeton in 1931. Neva attended Mercer School, Princeton High School, WV Business College in Bluefield, Bluefield State College, and Concord College. She was a member of the Mercer band and choir, was a trumpeter in the Princeton High band, and was a bugler in the American Legion National Champion Drum Corps in Bluefield, WV. Neva Thorn joined the downtown Princeton Presbyterian Church in 1943 and served her Lord in the choir for 25 years, taught the nursery school children, the cradle roll, the boys Sunday School class and was Senior Girl Scout Leader. Mrs. Thorn was first employed by the Four Shoe Company (with the late E.K. Ketron) and then worked for 32 years and 33 days for Appalachian Power Company. After her retirement in 1983, Neva Thorn joined the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and worked as a volunteer at the West Virginia Information Center near Princeton and made calls to arrange senior trips. Neva did community service as: V.F.W. Auxiliary President and State Conductress; member of the Junior Woman’s Club; member of the Bluefield Symphony Orchestra (under the late Bill Caruth); member of the Princeton Civic Chorus (under Ella Nash Jarrell); member of the Periwinkle Garden Club; a ten year volunteer for Princeton Community Hospital where she was a lifetime member; a Red Cross blood donor and a “call in” volunteer for the Red Cross. She was a longtime member of the Princeton Chapter #53, Order of the Eastern Star and was Worthy Matron in 1951-52. Neva was also a member of the Macedonia White Shrine #8, Bluefield, WV. She was preceded in death by her husband, William M. (Bill) Thorn; her parents; brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Betty Kate Okes; and nephew, Mark Luther Oakes. Neva is survived by her brother, The Rev. Dr. Bernard M. (Ann) Oakes of Niles, OH; one niece and two nephews; three great nieces; and one great nephew; one aunt and several cousins. She is also survived by good friends: Caregiver Shirley Bovo, Lavonna McNear (Richmond, VA), Ocal and Debbie Smith, Carl and Molly Dickerson, Tom and Charlotte Thomas, Charley and Joann Richmond, Barbara and Lenny Debuque, Violet Thompson, Margaret P. Bell (Princeton) and friends from Niles and Lordstown, OH. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 PM, Friday, October 14, 2011 at the George W. Seaver Chapel of Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton with Rev. Ed Pettus officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call at the funeral home from 12:30 PM until the service hour on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Princeton Presbyterian Church, 1809 W Main St., Princeton, WV 24740.