Obituary of James Henry Thornley

James H. Thornley, age 89, of the Poughkeepsie area, and a resident of this community since 1964, died Friday, October 14, 2022. 

Mr. Thornley worked for IBM, Poughkeepsie for 28 years before retiring in 1992.  He had worked in Software Assurance for 23 years and Program Development for 5 years, with his major emphasis being a specialist in Human Factors.  Prior to working at IBM, he was a math teacher in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania education system.

Mr. Thornley was a Korean War Veteran, serving from 1953-1956.  While in the army he was an Offset Pressman and Printing Equipment Repairman.  He was a member of New Hackensack Reformed Church where he was ordained an elder in 1994.  Since 2004, he has attended Christ Episcopal Church.

He was a member of the Mid Hudson Tres Dias community and initiator of the Vida Nueva and National Tres Dias Movement.  He was also a member of the Kairos community, a prison ministry that ministers to the men of Fishkill Correctional Facility. 

Mr. Thornley served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Wappingers Falls and was also a member of the IBM Quarter Century Club. 

Born in Easton, Pennsylvania on September 12, 1933, he was the son of (Anna) Isobel Rattray Thornley and Arthur Wyant Thornley.  He attended Easton area schools and received his Bachelor of Science Degree with a dual major in Math and Secondary Education in 1961 from Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania.  He received his Masters Degree in Industrial Administration in 1972 from Union College. 

On June 17, 1962, at the First Methodist Church of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he married the former Barbara Schlickenmaier, of Baltimore, Maryland.  (who predeceased him)

On February 14, 2004, at Christ Episcopal Church of Poughkeepsie, NY, he married Martha McGill Gutowski, of Wappingers Falls, NY.  (who predeceased him)

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Dale Kane of Poughkeepsie and a son and daughter-in-law, Kevin Wyant and Laura Thornley of Castle Rock, Colorado.  He is also survived by four grandchildren, Christopher and Barbara Kane, and Makenzie and Ella Thornley, as well as immediate and extended Gutowski family members from his second marriage.  His sister, Delia Ann, predeceased Mr. Thornley.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Christ Episcopal Church, located at 20 Carrol St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.  The service will be officiated by Reverend Susan Fortunato. 

Local arrangements are under the direction of Straub, Catalano, and Halvey Funeral Home in Wappingers Falls, NY.  In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to Dutchess Outreach, Hudson River Housing, Hudson Valley Hospice, or a charity of your choice.