Major John H. Tharp Jr. has answered God's call and entered into His presence on Friday evening, December 9, 2011, from his home with his family by his side, sharing together, laughing, crying and remembering those precious memories which they had shared through the years. The family shared, 'daddy enjoyed the sounds of his children for several hours more and when he was at peace, he took his final breath, bittersweet moments and precious memories.'
John H. Tharp was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on December 30, 1930. He entered the Ambassadors Session of the College for Officers Training in September of 1950, from Knoxville, Tennessee and was commissioned on June 4, 1951. He served for 45 years as a Major for the Salvation Army. For the past 13 years, he had served as an administrative assistant for the Salvation Army in Panama City. He had been a resident of Panama City for 15 years, moving here from New Orleans, Louisiana. John married Juanita McFarland on January 31, 1955.
He is survived by his wife, Juanita Tharp; his three sons, John Andrew Tharp and wife Annette, Jeffrey Alan Tharp and wife Dianne, Nicholas Eugene Tharp and wife Connie; and his daughter, Rebekah Tharp-Hudson and husband Steve; grandchildren, Misty Ann, Kristina Hope, John Michael, Amie Michelle, Jared Alan, Felicia Joy, Gennifer Nichole, Nicholas Eugene II, Jacob Lee and Adam Gabriel; great grandchildren, Hannah Nichole, Colton Lee, Ashton Keith, Gabriel Scott, Brody Alan and Reed Thomas; two brothers, Danny Tharp and Larry Tharp; three sisters, Pauline Kayser, Wilma Jean Broadwater and Cecilia Graves; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Salvation Army Chapel, 2601 S. Hwy 77, Lynn Haven. Graveside services will be held on Friday in the Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, GA. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 540, Panama City, FL 32402 in memory of Major Tharp.