Obituary of Darrell Lee Tharp

On Saturday, November 24, 2012, in Dallas, Texas, Darrell Lee Tharp, 57, went home to rest with his heavenly Father. Darrell along with his wife Sandra, of 39 years, had together fought a lengthy and courageous battle against illnesses. Darrell was born on April 30, 1955 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Martha and Gene Tharp. Darrell leaves to cherish his memory and grieve this loss his wife Sandra, of their beloved home; their fur babies, Dollie, Patches, Mr. Minpin and Bobby; his mother and father, Martha and Gene Tharp of McAlester; brother and wife Donald and Patricia Tharp of Muskogee; sister, Diane Campbell of Tulsa; an adopted sister, Mary McCary and husband Jinks of Wright City; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Brenda Ragland of Broken Bow, Bill and Carolyn Lawson of Canadian, OK, Carl and Delores Sparks, Ted and Annie Evicks and Dan Fisher all of Hartshorne, OK. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and a host of friends and his union buddies. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Marian and Thelma Lozier and Earl and Gladys Tharp. Darrell began his working career at the Wright City Sawmill in 1973 and there began his service to his union at his Local Lodge 5-15 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO in the capacity of Grievance committee, Vice President, President/Business Representative before going on to serve as Secretary/Treasurer of the IAM District Lodge W-2, Business Representative of Local Lodge W-15 and W-2, and Assistant Directing Business Representative of the District Lodge W-2. Darrell worked tirelessly and it was the goal of his life's work to represent his fellow union brothers and sisters to the best of his ability in order to give them a better life. Darrell was the happiest when he and Sandra were working on improving their home place. Darrell loved helping his family and friends enjoyed making them laugh. He was a strong advocate and an active sopporter of the Animal Rescue and Kare of McCurtain County in many areas of their work. Darrell was affiliated with the Wright City First Baptist Church. Visitation and a lunch will be held at the Broken Bow First Baptist Church, 505 North Broadway, Broken Bow, on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 12:00 noon. Funeral services will follow at the Broken Bow First Baptist Church at 2pm with Bro. Gary Champ officiating and Randall Rice officiating. Interment will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider blessing Sandra's heart and honoring Darrell's memory with a donation to the ARK (Animal Rescue and Kare of McCurtain County) P.O. Box 1023, Broken Bow, OK 74728 or drop off a donation at the 1st Bank and Trust of Broken Bow.