Sharon and Blair: Thorpe, Edgar and Blodwin Evans (Blair Thorpe's Parents)

Edgar Thorpe (1892-1981) & Rachel Blodwin Evans (1896-1978)

Edgar Thorpe was born on August 19, 1892 at Pleasantview, Oneida, Idaho
to Joseph and Mary Mason Thorpe.

Rachel Blodwin Evans was born on March 11, 1896 at Malad, Oneida, Idaho
to Benjamin and Mary Jane Jones Evans.

They were married on March 23, 1921 in the Salt Lake Temple.

There children are:
Thurman Edgar Thorpe, April 4, 1922--June 5, 2004
Mary Lou Thorpe, May 24, 1923--March 24, 1932
Blair Thorpe, May 6, 1927--November 3, 2010
Neva Rae Thorpe, November 21, 1929--
Ralph Thorpe, May 21, 1935--July 3, 1940

Engagement Picture, March 1921

World War I United States Army, Edgar Thorpe 2269199, Private Battery C 346 Field Artillery, Honorable Discharge Nov. 28, 1919. Picture taken in 1918.

Blodwin's Malad High School Graduation 1916.
She is top row, second from left.

Blodwin, dark dress, with friends.

The Family

Mary Lou passed away at age 8 of a heart condition.
According to Grandma Blodwin, Mary Lou was pretty much perfect.
Aunt Neva agrees that Grandma thought Mary Lou was perfect and
she reminded Neva of that often!

Ralph died at age 5.
Blodwin had these two pictures (Ralph's and Mary Lou's) on her dresser.
She talked about them both often.
Ralph had a stubborn streak. He was between 2 and 3 and had never spoken.
It seems Grandpa Ed had heard Ralph talking to himself a few times,
but the family couldn't get him to say a word. One evening at the table,
Ralph made his usual "grunting" sound indicating he wanted the butter.
Grandpa told everyone not to give him the butter unless he asked for it properly.
He looked around, saw he wasn't going to get his butter, so, according to
Blair, he ducked his head and said, "Please, pass the butter." Those were
the first words the rest of the family had ever heard from his mouth.

According to Aunt Neva, Ralph was very sweet. She and Ralph were buddies. They slept together and did everything together. She was 10 when Ralph passed away.

This is a painting of Grandma's House at 366 W. 400 N., Malad, Idaho.
The house was built of the old porous orange bricks used early in the century.
When Thurman returned from the war, he determined he, Neva and Blair would paint the house.
They chose multiple shades of pink and burgundy and painted the mortar white. It took forever.
According to Blair and Neva, they painted the house while Thurman was hanging with his buddies, but Thurman doesn't agree with that story. Neva says Thurm was no where around. At any rate, the
bricks soaked in the paint. It took gallons, but the home has never had to be repainted.