Thorburn, Warren James of Lexington, January 23, 2021. Born on December 15, 1929, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Ernest and Pauline Thorburn of Somerville, he grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he graduated from high school in 1947 and also met the love of his life, Joan Hamilton. He attended nearby Tufts University, studying mechanical engineering, and following graduation joined the Navy as an officer. Warren and Joan married at West Somerville Baptist Church on July 14, 1953, and soon moved to Jacksonville, Florida, near the base where he was stationed at the time.  He served our country from 1953-1956 spending most of his service on the USS Hancock Aircraft Carrier in the Pacific.  After leaving the Navy, Warren and Joan moved back to Somerville, and then in 1963 settled in Lexington with their four children. Warren had a long career as a mechanical engineer, earning a Master's degree from Northeastern in the evenings and eventually joining Itek Corporation in Lexington where he worked for more than 25 years before retiring. Warren and Joan enjoyed square and round dancing, golf, touring the United States, and making wood crafts to sell at fairs. Camping with the family was a favorite summer vacation. For many years Warren volunteered videoing Sunday services at First Baptist Church of Lexington where he was a member for 50 years and also served as a deacon. Warren is survived by his four children Gary W. Thorburn and his wife Patricia of Maynard, William G. Thorburn and his wife Donna of Danvers, Susan J. Robertson and her husband Blake of Billerica, and Linda J. Thorburn of Dunstable. Warren is also survived by his brother Wayne J. Thorburn and his wife Judith of Austin, Texas, his sister-in-law Sandra L. Gatchell, nieces Pamela Thorburn and Karen Young, nephew Scott Gatchell, cousin Clyde Alcorn and Ruth Slayden and many others as well as eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Due to the coronavirus, services will be private. Friends may join the private funeral service at the Douglass Funeral Home in Lexington on Wednesday February 3 at 11am by connecting to the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLzPgF5Ghks&feature=youtu.be

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Lexington, Massachusetts.