Lawrence Henry Thie, 97, Coupeville, Wash., died Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, at a hospital there.
He was born to John and Lydia (Koch) Thie Aug. 17, 1912, in Huntersville. In 1942, he married Mary Louise (Nugent) Thie, who survives.
The 1930 Batesville High School graduate was a member of the former St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Huntersville. The Rural Farm Youth member earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University in 1938. Thie was a U.S. Army Air Corps major in the weather reporting division during World War II.
He worked for the Indiana Farm Bureau Cooperative, Farm Security Administration, Washington State University and Agency for International Development. The hunter and hiker educated farmers in Nepal, Korea and Vietnam. The Island County, Wash., extension agent helped establish an International Farm Youth Exchange Program for older 4-H members. The couple traveled to all 50 states and seven continents. The Coupeville United Methodist Church member was active with Coupeville Lions and United Way.
Also surviving are three daughters: Carol Thie, South Bend; Bonnie Cowart, China; and Krista Hoyt, Washington state; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. at Coupeville United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the church, 608 N. Main St., Coupeville, WA 98239; or ECHO (global hunger solutions), 17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers, FL 33917. Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor, Wash., assisted the family.
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