William Franklin “Bill” Thorn Sr., 82, of Camano Island, passed away at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon on Jan. 13, 2018.

Born in New Castle, Pa., on July 23, 1935, as the only child of Merle Edward Emery and Jenelyn Lovina (Tyler) Thorn, the family moved to Albuquerque, N.M., at age 13.

He attended Highland High School and the University of New Mexico, where he was in the Naval ROTC program. Upon graduation with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, he was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy where he worked on the Polaris missile project and was assigned to the Naval Ordnance Test Station in China Lake, Calif.

While at UNM he met Shirley Tinsley and the two were married in 1957. They had three children together, William Jr., Rebecca and Robert. They were divorced in 1973. Shirley preceded him in death in 2013.

Bill was later remarried to Nancy Martinez, raising their son Christopher and her daughter Melanie. He was an active volunteer with Youth Eastside Services.

He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1965 and went to work for Rocket Research in Redmond, Wash., as director of undersea technology. He worked with Jacques Cousteau in underwater technology development and application and later on developing components for the Space Shuttle booster rockets. He went on to become a pioneer in the early development of automobile airbags, eventually holding a number of early patents.

After retiring from Rocket Research, Bill and his cat Fred moved into a house on the beach on Camano Island, where he loved watching and naming the birds and other wildlife, especially his favorite, “Bugsy” Seagull. He was an accomplished oil painter and often called his house on the beach his spiritual home.

He remained active in Democratic politics throughout retirement and volunteered with many organizations including Island County Senior Services, Northwest Workforce Council, The Democratic Club, Washington State Council on Aging, Sno-Isle Friends of the Library, and the Library Advisory Board. He was elected as an Island County commissioner from 1999 to 2002, and helped build the Camano Center. Later, through his volunteer work, he helped support the building of the Camano Island Library.

Bill is remembered with love by his survivors: former wife Nancy Thorn and stepdaughter Melanie Marin; son Christopher and wife Danielle of Mill Creek; son William and wife Debra of Cleveland; daughter Rebecca of Tacoma; son Robert and wife Rachel of Edmonds; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Bill was laid to rest in a private interment in Camano Island Pioneer Cemetery. He will be remembered as a loving father, a good, honest, selfless family man who cared deeply about his community.

A Celebration of Life will be held 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island, WA 98282

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Heifer International, or consider volunteering or becoming a member at the Camano Center.