Mr. Tarter was born on February 20, 1944 in Cincinnati, OH to his parents, Ermine and Betty Tarter. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BS Geography, cum laude in 1966 and was a member of the National Professional Geographic Fraternity Gamma Theta Upsilon. Mr. Tarter married Emily Irene Phipps of Thomaston, GA in 1969. They moved from Athens, GA to Dalton, GA in 1970 where Mr. Tarter worked for the North Georgia Regional Development Center (RDC) for 38½ years growing economic development of the six county district including Whitfield, Murray, Gilmer, Pickens, Fannin, and Cherokee counties. He served as Executive Director of the North Georgia RDC from 1988 until his retirement in 2009. Emily Tarter was a Drafting/CAD/Pre-engineering teacher at Southeast Whitfield High School and Whitfield County Career Academy for 31 ½ years.
Mr. Tarter was a member of the Dalton Kiwanis Club and served as its president and vice-president in the mid-1980’s. He served as the president of the Development District Association of Appalachia in 2009. He was especially proud of becoming a member of the Golden Bearcat Society in 2016. Throughout his life and in retirement Mr. Tarter enjoyed completing woodworking and landscaping projects around their house.
Mr. Tarter is survived by his wife Emily Tarter; their son Greg Tarter of Rome, GA; and four grandchildren Mary Beth, Thomas, Nicholas, and Douglas.
In lieu of flowers the Mr. Tarter and his family respectfully request donations be given to the Charcot Marie Tooth Association at www.cmtausa.org.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18