Delbert Gordon Tarter

There will be a visitation Sunday, October 23, 2011 at Johnson’s Funeral Home from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens with Dr. Ross Dawkins officiating.

Mr. Tarter was born on November 11, 1922 in Windom, Fannin County, Texas to Brent C. and Sarah Gordon Tarter. His father was a career school teacher and finished his career teaching Government at East Texas State University in Commerce Texas. His mother was a housewife.

Mr. Tarter retired as an Associate Professor of Chemistry in 1984 after 35 years of teaching at Angelo State University. He married Margaret Jane Watkins of Marlin, Texas in 1944. They met while attending East Texas State University. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, a son, Joe Brent Tarter and his wife, Jane, of Richmond, Virginia, a daughter, Margaret Ann Joiner, her husband Steve Joiner of Cupertino, California and their three sons, Steven and wife Cari, Michael and wife Katie, David and wife Elizabeth, all of California, and a son, James Gordon Tarter of Twin Falls, Idaho, Jim’s sons, J.B. of Houston, Texas; Nathan and wife Elisabeth of El Paso, Texas, Aaron of Twin Falls, Idaho, and daughter Kara of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Also surviving him are four great grandchildren: Samantha Tarter, Jack Tarter, Lillian Joiner, and Benjamin Joiner. He is also survived by the mother of the Tarter grandchildren, Victorija Laucius of Twin Falls, Idaho.

Mr. Tarter graduated from high school at East Texas State Teacher College Demonstration School in Commerce, Texas in 1940. He attended East Texas State University, from which he obtained a degree in mathematics in 1943. While in college, he was elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, was a member and president of Alpha Chi, the national honor society, and president of the Science Club. He was a member of the Student Council his freshman year. He was a member of The Friar’s Club, a social fraternity, and was president one year.

Mr. Tarter served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946. He attended Midshipman’s School at the United States Naval Academy and was an engineering officer attached to Destroyer Escorts escorting convoys in the North Atlantic Ocean. He made eight round-trips across the Atlantic Ocean during the war. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Naval Reserve.

Mr. Tarter married Margaret Jane Watkins of Marlin, Texas on November 1, 1944 in Rockford, Illinois. They have resided in San Angelo since 1949.

After World War II, Mr. Tarter attended the University of Texas at Austin for three years and obtained a Master’s Degree in Chemistry. He was a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon, the national honor society for chemistry. He did further graduate studies at The University of Southwestern Louisiana and at Oregon State University.

Mr. Tarter joined the faculty of San Angelo College on June 1, 1949 and retired from Angelo State University in 1984 after completing 35 years of teaching. He was head of the science department from 1958 until 1965, and head of the Chemistry Department from 1965 until 1970. He was selected as Texas Junior College Teacher of the Year in 1960, the first year that statewide award was given. He was nominated for the prestigious Piper Professor Award in 1964. He is past president of the Angelo State University Faculty Senate and of the ASU chapter of the Texas Association of College Teachers. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, Texas Academy of Science, Texas Association of College Teachers, Texas State Teachers Association and Phi Delta Kappa Honorary Society for teachers. He served on the Board of Directors of the United Campus Ministries from 1970 to 1974. He was on the committee to organize an Alpha Chi chapter of the national honor society for junior and senior students at Angelo State University and served as the first faculty sponsor from 1968 until 1979.

Mr. Tarter consider that the highlight of his career came in 1974 when the students of the Chemistry Department honored him with a reception and banquet from 25 years of teaching. The invitation read, “Mr. Tarter’s concern for and involvement with his students has earned for him their lasting gratitude and respect…”

Mr. Tarter is a member of the First United Methodist Church and has served as Administrative Board Chairman. He is a 57- year member and past president of the San Angelo Downtown Lions Club.

Mr. Tarter’s hobbies included hunting, camping, travelling, and bird watching with the last three taking up most of his time since retirement. He was a member of The National Audubon Society, Texas Ornithological Society, the Nature Conservancy, The Sierra Club, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology, The American Birding Association and the Inland Bird Banding Association.

Mr. Tarter made a significant contribution to teaching, to chemistry and to Angelo State University.

Family and friends may sign the online register book at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home, San Angelo, TX.