Graner Thorne

March 10, 1933 - September 22, 2021

Arthur Graner Thorne III, age 88, passed away peacefully of natural causes. Born to his parents, Arthur and Helen Thorne, he moved as a young boy to Pasadena. He attended Polytechnic School in Pasadena through the 9th grade and graduated from South Pasadena High.

In his high school years, Graner enjoyed competing in equestrian riding events with his favorite horse, Laddie. As an avid skier he spent many winters in Sun Valley, Idaho as a ski jumper and racer. He attended Dartmouth College in 1951 before transferring to UC Berkeley 1952-1953. He enlisted in the United States Army 1953-1955 and was stationed at Ft Lewis, Washington. After serving as a medic, he returned to UC Berkeley and completed his degree in Physics. It was at this point he met the love of his life Bobbie, hashing at the Kappa House. They were married in 1958 and welcomed their first child in 1959, followed by their second in 1961.

Graner enjoyed backpacking and rock climbing in Yosemite Valley and Western Canada. Graner's career started with North American Aviation in 1958 which took the family to Washington DC in 1962. In 1965 he joined Ampex Corporation. In 1971, Graner took a sabbatical and the family traveled in a Land Rover for six months along the Silk Road to India. In 1981 he joined Siemens Corporation and purchased a computer division in 1981 which he ran and then sold in 1985. In 1987 he returned to the aviation field and lead an aviation business for 35 years. Graner loved to travel, play golf as a member of the Los Angeles Country Club and Alisal Ranch. He developed the family ranch into one of the premier vineyards in the Santa Barbara Wine Country region of Santa Rita Hills, growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Graner had a wonderful life and leaves a deep legacy in his roles as a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie; his daughter Karey (Robert), his son John (Stephanie); and five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Los Angeles Times, October 2, 2021