Ralph Max Thorpe

Ralph Max Thorpe, age 79, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord Friday, July 17, 2020. Ralph is remembered as a beloved husband, devoted father and grandfather and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy (Dottie) Lee Roberts Thorpe, his son, James Max Thorpe, wife Jacky Swift, whom he considered his second daughter, and granddaughter Madison Lee Anne Thorpe (his little angel), all of Lawrenceville. He is also survived by his daughter, Deborah Lee Thorpe Garcia, husband Efraim Angel Garcia, whom he considered his second son, and grandsons, Ashton Max Shearouse and Avery Noah Shearouse (his boys), all of Ramona, California. Ralph is also survived by his sister, Nancy Thorpe, husband Bill Lannon and their two sons and nine grandchildren, his nephew Jack Huggins, wife Barbara, their daughter and son, all of Miami, Florida. Ralph is also survived by Dottie’s siblings, children of Dorothy Malcolm and Hal Roberts (in heaven): Betty Roberts and Rick Vair, their two sons and four grandchildren, Connie Roberts and Jerry Graver, one son and two grandchildren, Nancy Roberts (in heaven) and Jose Pichardo, two daughters and four grandchildren, Hal and Mary Roberts, three children.Ralph was born in Miami, Florida, to Dora Sands and Max Thorpe on October 3, 1940. He attended Miami High School and two colleges. Ralph worked for Winn Dixie for 25 years in Dade and Broward Counties in Florida. After that he opened Lucky’s Super Stores in Southern California for three years, and he opened HEB’s Super Stores throughout Texas for three years. Ralph and family moved to Gwinnet County in 1998, and he became the owner of RT’S, A Place For Taste, in Snellville, Georgia, which was opened as a restaurant and then added a gift and antique shop. His main work on Earth, though, was volunteering at churches, schools, and Christian camps to help the youth and others come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and praying with and for many. He served both as a deacon and elder and Administrator of the Christian school at Florida Bible Church, Pembroke Pines, Florida. Ralph’s favorite verse is Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”Ralph’s Celebration of Life will be held at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, 2299 Rosebud Road, S.W, Grayson, Georgia, Sunday, August 2, 2020, at 3:30 P.M., with graveside service to follow. The family will receive visitors before the service from 2:30 until 3:15. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chestnut Grove Church, https//onrealm.org /ChestnutGroveBaptist/-/give/now or at the church, where Ralph and Dottie have been active, longtime members.Due to the current COVID-19 regulations, our staff is committed to taking care of our guests and families that we serve. We ask that all guests and family members attending services to please bring and wear a mask.Condolences may be sent to or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service LLC, “A Family Company” 120 Scenic Hwy Lawrenceville, GA 770-963-2411 has been entrusted with the arrangements.Read Obituary