Mack Linwood Thorpe Jr. of Pittsboro, NC died Tuesday, June 25, 2024, after many years of facing ongoing illness with strength and humor. His death was unexpected, as he had been improving in recent months, but loved ones are relieved he is no longer suffering. He is preceded in death by his father Mack Linwood Thorpe Sr. (Linwood). Mack leaves behind his wife Pamela Lambert Huelsman Thorpe (Pam) of Pittsboro, his mother Elizabeth Morse Thorpe (Libby) of Wilmington, his daughters Amy Thorpe Davis of Raleigh and Julie Thorpe Jones of Charlotte.
Mack was a loving and proud father to Amy and Julie. He was an adoring granddaddy to Amy and Greyson Davis’s children Charlotte (13), Henry (10) and Jack (5) as well as Julie and Kevin Jones’ children David (10), William (Bill) (7) and Dorothy (3).
He also leaves behind Pam’s sons Tony Huelsman of Franklinton, NC, and Charles John Huelsman (CJ) of Charlotte, NC. He was Mack Daddy to Tony and Leigh Huelsman’s children, Landon (14), Austin (10) and Emerson (9) and CJ and Kate Huelsman’s children Adaline (8) and Atlas (6).
Mack was born August 10, 1954, in Wilmington, NC. The only child of Linwood and Libby, he was raised on Middle Sound in Wilmington where he grew up by the water fishing and boating. Known affectionately as “Buddy” by his family, he attended Ogden Baptist Church and graduated from New Hanover High School in 1972 where he played football for the Wildcats as a center. A lifelong Scout, Mack was the first Eagle Scout in the history of Boy Scout Troop 237 in Ogden in 1970. He earned 49 merit badges, achieved Bronze, Silver and Gold Palms and the Order of the Arrow.
He continued playing football at Chowan College in Murfeesboro, NC where he earned an Associate of Science degree in 1974. He then transferred to East Carolina University in Greenville, NC where he was honored to play football under the leadership of Head Coach Pat Dye before earning a Bachelor of Science in 1977, a Master of Industrial Arts in 1979 and two Master of Arts in Education degrees in 1979 and 1982.
Mack’s professional life took multiple forms as he taught drafting at Ayden Grifton High School in the early 1980’s before moving to Cary, NC where he worked for more than two decades at Nortel Networks, specializing in sales and marketing. During his time at Nortel’s location in RTP and traveling the country, he gained many beloved colleagues and served as a professional mentor.
While living in Cary for nearly 20 years, Mack served as president of the Cary Kiwanis Club, receiving the Distinguished Presidents Award for both the Cary and Ayden Grifton Kiwanis Clubs. He was a longtime member of Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in Cary. An active GFBC member, he was also president of the Church Council and a deacon.
Mack found his calling leading backpacking and camping trips with Greenwood Forest youth, college students and adults. He founded WALC (Wilderness Adventure Leadership in Christ) in the mid-1990’s where he led dozens of backpacking expeditions, most often on the Appalachian Trail for more than a decade. Covering hundreds of miles, emphasizing primitive camping skills and leading devotions in nature, Mack provided a unique worship opportunity for hundreds who went on WALC trips. He met the founder of the Appalachian Trail and the first through-hiker, Earl Shaffer in 1998 on Shaffer’s 50th anniversary hike. This led Mack to later be a founding member of the board of the Earl Schaffer Foundation for Appalachian Trail preservation and maintenance.
Mack left the corporate world to open The Rusty Bucket home decor and country furnishings store in 2004 in Apex. NC. An active and well-known member of the Apex community, he served as president of the Apex Historical Society and could be seen driving his green 1930 Model A Ford Truck in local parades for many years. He and his wife Pam ran the store on Salem Street in Downtown Apex for 20 years before moving the location to Pittsboro where it will be closing later in 2024.
He kept his signature beard for his entire adult life and could tell you the date back in the 1970’s that he stopped shaving. When that beard turned white as he aged, he started growing it out. Mack’s favorite time of year was always Christmastime. After he helped make Christmas magical for his own children, he began playing Santa Claus at the Rusty Bucket and his career as Santa took off. A graduate of the Northern Lights Santa Academy and the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, Mack worked for several years as the official Santa Claus of the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC. He always gave of his time to local groups and churches when they needed a Santa appearance. As it always is for Santa, December became his busiest season.
Mack was a proud Scout, not just having achieved his Eagle rank personally, but by leading troops and serving as Scoutmaster for many years. Most recently, Mack was Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 93 in Pittsboro, attending the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia in 2023 and was a District Leader for the Occoneechee Council.
The family invites guests to a service of celebration and remembrance:
Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
Pittsboro United Methodist Church
71 West St, Pittsboro, NC 27312
In the Family Life Center
No one hated wearing a suit and tie more than Mack, (except for a Santa suit) so please feel free to dress comfortably. Wear purple and gold in honor of the ECU Pirates if you’d like. We ask any Scouts to please wear their uniforms or insignia in his honor. If you went on a WALC trip with Mack, please consider wearing hiking boots or a bandana.
Mack’s wish was to always keep the magic of Santa Claus alive for his grandchildren. While we often reference that Grandaddy “looks like Santa,” his younger grandchildren don’t know about his holiday career. Please help us honor his wish of keeping Santa real for them when you see them on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Mack’s honor to the Earl Shaffer Foundation or Scout Troop 93 in Pittsboro.
Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to service the Thorpe Family.
