Oleen Norman Tharpe

Mrs. Oleen Norman Tharpe, age 102, passed away Friday, July 29, 2022 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center.  Mrs. Tharpe was born July 6, 1920 in Surry County to Foley M. Norman and Jessie Alexander Norman. She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Ronda. Mrs. Tharpe graduated from The Women’s College at UNC (now UNC-G) with a degree in Art. She graduated in 1941 and accepted a government invitation to take some courses at NC State to prepare for employment in Baltimore, MD as a draftsman at the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company. Following WWII, she married Ralph B. Tharpe, Sr. in 1948, but continued to use her art talents as a hobby, a private art teacher and later as a kindergarten teacher’s aid.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Ralph B. Tharpe, Sr.; brothers, Kedron F. Norman and Fred C. Norman and sister, Una N. Key.

Survivors include: her sons, Ralph B. Tharpe, Jr. and his wife Janet of Ronda, Fred Norman Tharpe and his wife Deb of Ocean Isle Beach, Peter Tharpe and his wife Anita of Roaring River and Forrest Tharpe and his wife Lorelei of Willis, TX; sister, Glenda N. Strole of Laurinburg; 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, August, 1, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Smith and Rev. Jim Holbrook officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service.

The family requests that memorials be made to Macedonia Baptist Church, PO Box 40, Ronda, NC 28670 or the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.