Robert Loren Thoburn (May 19, 1929 – December 23, 2012) was a

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

minister, Virginia legislator, and founder of the Fairfax Christian School.

Biography

Thoburn was born May 19, 1929, in

Harrisville, Ohio Harrisville is a village in Harrison County, Ohio, United States. The population was 179 at the 2020 census. History Harrisville was platted by John Wells, Thomas Gray, Store Hutchinson, and Robert Dutton on October 19, 1814. The plat was filed ...

, and was one of 11 children. He graduated from what is now

Muskingum University Muskingum University is a private university in New Concord, Ohio, United States. Chartered in 1837 as Muskingum College, the institution is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). New Concord is located in far eastern Muskingum County, ...

and later

Westminster Theological Seminary Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS) is a Protestantism, Protestant Christian theology, theological seminary in the Reformed theology, Reformed theological tradition in Glenside, Pennsylvania. It was founded by members of the faculty of Prince ...

, and in 1955 he was ordained an Orthodox Presbyterian minister. He moved to

Fairfax, Virginia Fairfax ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia and the county seat of Fairfax County, Virginia, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 24,146. Fairfax is pa ...

, in 1959. In 1961, he founded the Fairfax Christian School. In 1975, he wrote the book, ''How to Establish and Operate a Successful Christian School'', based on his experiences founding numerous Christian schools. In 1984, in his second book, ''The Christian and Politics'', he argued that Christians should become more active in politics. He ran for the

US House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

twice, in 1976 and 1978, failing both times. In 1977, he was elected to the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two houses of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...

as a Republican. Thoburn was a member of the

John Birch Society The John Birch Society (JBS) is an American right-wing political advocacy group. Founded in 1958, it is anti-communist, supports social conservatism, and is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right, right-wing populist, and ...

. He died on December 23, 2012, at his home in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

of cancer. Surviving him were his wife of 60 years, 8 children, 46 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thoburn, Robert L. Religious leaders from Virginia 20th-century American Presbyterian ministers Presbyterians from Virginia John Birch Society members Virginia Republicans 20th-century members of the Virginia General Assembly 1929 births 2012 deaths Religious leaders from Ohio Presbyterians from Ohio People from Harrison County, Ohio People from Fairfax, Virginia Deaths from cancer in Virginia Muskingum University alumni Westminster Theological Seminary alumni Orthodox Presbyterian Church ministers Candidates in the 1976 United States elections Candidates in the 1978 United States elections