Dr. Stephen E. Thorne III, 97, of Concord, a former longtime resident of Fitchburg, Ma., died November 22, 2012 in Danvers, MA of natural causes. He was born in Saratoga, NY, January 22, 1915, the Son of Stephen and Margaret Glass Thorne. Steve was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Dental School. He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Benjamin Franklin in WWII and earned a Purple Heart in the Battle of the Philippines. Returning from service, he maintained a dental practice and was on staff at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg for his entire career. After retirement he remained active in the city with the First Parish Church and the Council on Aging. He was survived by his sister Ruth Wertz of Forestville, CA and his brother William Thorne of Raleigh, NC; his children Sally Bigham, Stephen Thorne, Susan Speirs, Scott Thorne, Margaret A. (Tam) Joiner, David Thorne, Duncan Thorne, Elizabeth Thorne and 52 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Peter Thorne and his wives, Lucille Trombley, Dorothy Blanchard MacNichol, and Mary Mayo Lewis. A graveside service will be held on Friday December 28th at 11 am at the family burial plot at Forest Hill Cemetery, 115 Mt. Elam Road, Fitchburg, MA. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Boston University School of Medicine's Alzheimer's Disease Center (Hope Study), c/o Development Office, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118. Concord's town flag will fly at half-staff on Friday December 28th in recognition of Dr. Thorne's service to his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Cemetery: Forest Hill Cemetery, 115 Mt. Elam Road, Fitchburg. Service: A graveside service will be held on Friday December 28th at 11 am at the family burial plot at Forest Hill Cemetery, 115 Mt. Elam Road, Fitchburg, MA.