Extracted from The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX)
Wednesday, January 19, 1966

R. J. Thorne, Founder of Bank, Dies

Robert J. Thorne, 91, of the Stoneleigh Terrace, a long-time Dallas attorney and founder of the old Dallas Morris Plan Bank, died here Tuesday.

A native of Leon County, Mr. Thorne attended the University of Texas. He practiced law in Memphis, Hall County, and was a former Leon County judge.

In 1918, he organized the Morris Plan Bank, now the Dallas Bank of Services & Trusts. He served as the bank's attorney and was honorary chairman of the board.

He was a member and former deacon of the Gaston Avenue Baptist Church and was a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. He had been a Dallas resident 48 years.

Survivors, all of Dallas: Two sisters, Mrs. Lillian E. Sigmund and Mrs. W. H. Reid, and a brother, Malcom C. Thorne.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Marrs-Mundy-Quill Funeral Chapel with entombment in Hillcrest Mausoleum.