Oscar Calvin “Bud” Tharp, 86, Bethany, MO passed away Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at the Missouri Veteran’s Home in Cameron, MO.
Bud was born October 21, 1932, to Clifford Calvin Tharp and Thelma Gladys Riley Tharp in Milan, Missouri and raised in Green City, Missouri. On June 8, 1952, he married Bette Jo Partin, daughter of Ollie Basil Partin and Myrtle Iona Partin of Green City, Missouri. Bud and Bette were married for 66 years.
To this union, five children were born, Diane (Gary) Barkley of Excelsior Springs, MO; Eric (Donna) Tharp of Colorado Springs, CO; Hal (Barbara) Tharp of Tucson, AZ; Rodney (Tracy) Tharp of Laclede, MO; and Dennis Tharp (Bill) of Lee’s Summit, MO. He is survived by his loving wife, five children, twelve grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
Bud was a Korean War veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1956, mostly at Ladd Air Force base in Fairbanks, Alaska. Upon completing his military commitment, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where he studied agricultural economics. After graduation, Bud taught vocational agriculture for a couple of years in King City, MO. Bud then moved his young family to Bethany, MO and became a county extension agent in 1962. He very much enjoyed working with farmers on soils, plants, crop rotations, and livestock. Bud then transitioned into a part-owner and operator of a grain elevator in Bethany, MO before joining the 1st National Bank of Bethany, MO, for over 25 years as a loan officer and Vice President. Bud was known for his jokes and he used that gift to help lighten the mood in stressful situations or among family and friends.
Bud and Bette were active members of the First Baptist Church of Bethany, MO for more than fifty years. Bud also served as a Deacon and volunteered to shuttle the elderly to church services on Sunday evenings.
Bud’s agricultural roots were deep and were strengthened with the purchase of a small farm north of Bethany in the early 1970’s. Bud enjoyed raising cattle, growing a few crops, and designing structures for water conservation purposes. He really enjoyed the solitude of the outdoors and tending to his livestock. He also ran a dairy operation for a few years with his son, Rodney.
The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff that cared for Bud these past few years. They especially want to thank those at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron, MO, where Bud spent the past three years before dying peacefully on January 22, 2019 making the journey from this earth to his heavenly home.
Funeral Services and Military Rites will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 26 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Graveside Service and Burial will be at 3:00 p.m., Saturday in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Green City, MO. The family will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Bethany and/or Missouri VA Home of Cameron. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.