Robert L. Thoburn

Robert L. Thoburn was a Presbyterian clergyman, Virginia legislator, and founder of the Fairfax Christian School.^[1] He lived from 1929-2012.

Biography

Thoburn was born May 19, 1929, in Harrisville, Ohio, and was one of 11 children. In 1955, he was ordained an Orthodox Presbyterian minister. He moved to Fairfax, Virginia, 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, his second book, "The Christian and Politics", he argued that Christians should become more active in politics. His final book, written in 1986,"The Children Trap", argued for the abolishment of public schools, stating that schools were run by,"humanist kidnappers (who) . . . have used the tyranny implicit in compulsory education to indoctrinate the children of Christians.”

He ran for the US House of Representatives twice, in 1976 and 1978, failing both times. In 1977, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates as a Republican.

He died Dec 23, 2012 in his home in Vienna of cancer.^[2] Surviving him were his wife of 60 years, 8 children, 46 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

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