Obituary for Roland L Tharp
On Sunday December 29, 2018, Roland L. Tharp Jr. passed away at the age of 81.
Roland was born on February 15, 1937 in Winchester, VA to Roland Sr. and Helen (Schwartz). He received his degree in Civil Engineering from VMI in 1958. Roland went on to serve 30 years in the US Air Force and retired as a Colonel. He married Nancy Farmer in 1959. They raised three sons, Brian, David and Kevin.
Roland was a member of Braddock Street United Methodist Church and was the first in his family to attend college. He created many friendships from his days at VMI and has enjoyed staying in touch with his fellow Keydets. He continued to support VMI after his graduation in 1958. Roland spent 20 of his 30 years in the Air Force as a pilot. He served a tour in Vietnam as an O2 pilot. Upon retirement, he spent several years as a private pilot before becoming a substitute teacher for James Wood High School. Roland also enjoyed spending time golfing and working on projects at his and Nancy’s beach house in Corolla, NC.
Roland was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy and infant son Bruce. He is survived by his sons Brian L. Tharp and wife Lisa of Richmond, VA, David H. Tharp and wife Jane of Colorado Springs, CO and Kevin A. Tharp and wife Dana of Glen Allen, VA and grandchildren Alexander Tharp, Veronica Harless, Christina Galownia, DJ Tharp, Mark Tharp, Grace Tharp, Griffin Tharp, Ashlyn Tharp and great granddaughter Francis Harless.
The family will receive friends on Friday, January 4 from 2:00 – 3:00 at Jones Funeral Home in Winchester, VA with a service to follow in the Jones Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Mount Hebron Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The American Cancer Society.
Roland was born on February 15, 1937 in Winchester, VA to Roland Sr. and Helen (Schwartz). He received his degree in Civil Engineering from VMI in 1958. Roland went on to serve 30 years in the US Air Force and retired as a Colonel. He married Nancy Farmer in 1959. They raised three sons, Brian, David and Kevin.
Roland was a member of Braddock Street United Methodist Church and was the first in his family to attend college. He created many friendships from his days at VMI and has enjoyed staying in touch with his fellow Keydets. He continued to support VMI after his graduation in 1958. Roland spent 20 of his 30 years in the Air Force as a pilot. He served a tour in Vietnam as an O2 pilot. Upon retirement, he spent several years as a private pilot before becoming a substitute teacher for James Wood High School. Roland also enjoyed spending time golfing and working on projects at his and Nancy’s beach house in Corolla, NC.
Roland was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy and infant son Bruce. He is survived by his sons Brian L. Tharp and wife Lisa of Richmond, VA, David H. Tharp and wife Jane of Colorado Springs, CO and Kevin A. Tharp and wife Dana of Glen Allen, VA and grandchildren Alexander Tharp, Veronica Harless, Christina Galownia, DJ Tharp, Mark Tharp, Grace Tharp, Griffin Tharp, Ashlyn Tharp and great granddaughter Francis Harless.
The family will receive friends on Friday, January 4 from 2:00 – 3:00 at Jones Funeral Home in Winchester, VA with a service to follow in the Jones Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Mount Hebron Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The American Cancer Society.