Francis Ray Thorp, Sr.

Francis Ray Thorp, Sr., affectionately known as Ray, age 81, of Newark, DE, passed away on Friday, February 4, 2022, at Christiana Hospital, Seasons Hospice in Newark.

Born in Wilmington on December 8, 1940, Ray was the son of the late Francis P. and Margaret Thorp. He began his career at Chrysler as a Maintenance Mechanic in May 1966 and was a part of the UAW Local 404 at Newark Parts Depot Plant #3130, retiring in 2001 after 35 years of service. Ray also owned and operated The Performance Shop (Automotive and Speed Accessories) from 1968-1993 and Performance Shop, where he sold car and utility trailers from 1993-2011.

Ray enjoyed spending quality time with his family, fishing, stocking his many bird feeders and spending time sitting on the back porch with the family dog, Diesel. He also enjoyed attending Carlisle Automotive and Hershey swap meets, a long with any form of asphalt or dirt racing. Ray truly loved his family and was a devoted husband, dad and poppy (grandfather).

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Ashley Seward. Ray is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Betty F. (Heverin) Thorp; children, Margaret Ann Seward (Tim) and F. Ray Thorp, Jr. (Melanie); grandchildren, Amanda Brown Himes (Richie), Tim Seward, Jr., R. Dylan Pennypacker and Kassidy Thorp; and great grandchildren, Alan Brown, James Seward, Alicia Brown and Charleigh Pennypacker (Anderson).

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am. Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray’s name to The American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, Maryland 20852 or to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.