Mr. James Carlos "J.C." Tharpe

James Carlos (J.C.) Tharpe, 74, of Tabor Road, died Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at Iredell Memorial Hospital. He was born in Iredell County, September 21, 1935, son of the late Don Carlos Tharpe and Geneva “Jim” Grace Head Tharpe. Also preceding him in death was his first wife, Edith Jean Leasure Tharpe.

He was a graduate of Harmony High School and served in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command as a Staff Sergeant during the Korean Conflict. During his tour of duty, he was stationed in several different places in the USA, Greenland and Labrador. He worked for Southern Screw Co, and the County of Iredell Solid Waste Unit from which he retired, also working as a poultry farmer. J.C. has fond memories of collecting honey, sawing wood with a steam engine, a “Duddle Bug” which his daddy made from a Model "A" Ford.

On May 4, 1991 he married Lillian Stout Pitts, who survives of the home. Also surviving are children James Douglas (Doug) Tharpe (Carolyn), Kathy Shoemaker (Jack Jr. and Rebecca Lipscomb (J. W.) all of Harmony. Step children surviving are Wanda Onley, Diane Romito Burgal and Clarence Michael Pitts all of Statesville, along with three sisters; Doris Parsons (Don), Rachel Ireland and Nancy Wood all of Harmony. Fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren are also surviving.

Services celebrating J.C.’s life are scheduled for Thursday at two p.m. in the Ernest M. Troutman Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Kenneth Sechler officiating. Burial will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens with full military rites accorded at the graveside by the Iredell Veterans Council. Serving as pallbearers will be Jason Futch, Chris Onley, Johnny Ireland, Bradley Onley, Mike Pitts, Michael Pitts, and Dillon Romito. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7-8:30 pm at Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony, and at other times at the residence of the deceased.

Condolences may be sent to the family online to www.reavisfuneralhomeharmony.com.

Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony is serving the family of J.C. Tharpe.