Vincent Julian Throop

Vincent Julian “Vince” Throop left this world on January 16, 2024, while walking his beloved dog, Sadie.

Vince was born in Washington, D.C. on May 19, 1950, and was the youngest of five children. His father Vincent Medville was a geographer with the U.S. Census and his mother Beatrice Rachel was a dedicated high school teacher of Romance languages. Vince earned multiple degrees in geology, mechanical engineering technology, welding and sheet metal. He worked a variety of jobs through the years including textile plant engineer and energy engineer.

Vince married his wife Helen Rifas, in Eugene, Oregon and after relocating to North Carolina, became the father of two children, Ray and Celia. His children were his pride and joy and he delighted in sharing with them his love of backpacking on the Appalachian Trail, his love of animals, and his ability to problem solve and fix almost anything. Vince loved a good, clean joke and had the driest sense of humor. He was a voracious reader and a raconteur of true events, slightly embroidered. He had a kind and generous nature and never met a stranger.

Vince was pre-deceased by his parents and his sister Alice. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of nearly 44 years, Helen, his children Ray (Amy) and Celia, his sister Annette and brothers David (Dorothy) and Medville (Thyra), his sister-in-law Shari (Steve), brother-in-law Leonard (Mizue), and many nieces and nephews.

The family is planning a private memorial for Vince on the Appalachian Trail at a later date.

Those wishing to honor his memory might consider a donation to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (https://appalachiantrail.org/). Vince’s trail name was “Plain Vince,” Class of ‘75 and LASH in 2022.