Reverend George Tharp, age 87, passed away on January 26, 2021 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa.

A funeral service was held at Franklin Junior High in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, February 2. Burial followed the service at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines, Iowa.

George was born to Thomas and Mamie (Shanes) Tharp on September 3, 1933 in Hohenwald. He grew up living in many of the surrounding towns, but Hohenwald was always home. He was baptized in the Buffalo River in 1948 and three years later graduated from Lewis County High School (1951).

He left Hohenwald in the fall of 1951 for Peoria, Illinois where he met Patsy Phillips, married, moving to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1952 to attend Apostolic Bible Institute. He graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Theology and was later bestowed Doctor of Theology. After a year pastoring in Muscatine, Iowa, he was voted in as pastor of Midway Tabernacle in Davenport, Iowa where he pastored for the next 42 years. He also served as Iowa District UPCI Secretary and on the board of Tupelo Children’s Mansion for 29 years.

His life revolved around pastoring and helping those around him. Upon retirement, he moved to southern Illinois, preaching in many churches in the area until moving to Des Moines, Iowa to be closer to family in 2007.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Mamie Tharp; his brothers, Joe and Thomas (Jr); and two sisters, Virginia Romain and Mary Faye McElhone.

George is survived by his wife of 68 years, Patsy; their children, Kathy Safris (Dean), Nancy Bolinger (Duane) and Vixie Spencer, all of Des Moines, Iowa; nine grandchildren (and spouses), and 15 great-grandchildren; brother, James Tharp; sister, Rachel Graham (Mick); brother-in-law, Ray Romain (Virginia); and brother-in-law, Jerry (Mindy) Stricklin.