Ada Louise (Young) Tharp (Decatur), age 105, died peacefully on Sunday (January 8, 2012) in the presence of her daughter and friends at Heartland Nursing Home.
Visitation will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday (January 13) with a service of worship and celebration to follow at 11:00 A.M. at Decatur First Baptist Church, 1320 Arbor Way, Decatur. Interment will follow in the Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin, IL. Dawson & Wikoff West Wood Street Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ada was born in Pekin, Illinois on April 17, 1906. She lived on a farm until her family moved to Delavan, where she graduated from high school. She later graduated from Shurtleff College (near Alton) and, in a career spanning 32 years, taught in country schools in Tazewell County, Findley, Wyoming, Holbrook College in Ohio, Waverly, and (Jr. & Sr. High) in Warrensburg-Latham Schools. She earned her Masters Degree from Normal University.
She was married in 1935 to Rev. Francis Marion Tharp, who also taught in Waverly and Warrensburg. They were married for 66 years before his death in 2001. She was a proud member of the teacher's honor society, Delta Kappa Gamma, and was the eldest annuitant of the Illinois State Teachers Association. She was also a member of the Warrensburg Lions Club Auxiliary. She and her husband greatly enjoyed traveling and showing their children the wonders of the 48 contiguous states. She has been a very active member of the Decatur First Baptist Church for 56 years. Always an advocate for missions, she has, until recently, been turning out 100s of knitted squares for "homeless quilts".
She was preceded in death by her husband and her sister, Jenny Young (also a teacher). She leaves two children: Marilyn Stark and John R. Tharp, five grand children: John F. M., Christina, and Thomas Tharp, Francine Tagle, and John M. Stark, and seven great grandchildren, and one great great-grandchild.
Her family is very grateful to the pastor and members of the Decatur First Baptist Church for the support they have given over the past several weeks. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Decatur First Baptist Church.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com .
| Nancy (Siron) Napier |
To Ada's family |
January 11, 2012 |
I will always remember to smiling face. God has added a beautiful flower to his garden. My love and prayers to all of you.
