He was born May 2, 1934, in Bradenton, Fla., to Lewis and Abbie (McMulen) Tharpe. On Nov. 30, 1974, in Goshen he married Ola F. Ernsberger.

She survives along with one son, Michael R. (April) Tharpe of Westfield; two grandchildren; and three brothers, Edwin (Jane) Tharpe of Lake City, Fla., John (Jean) Tharpe of Decatur, Tenn., and William Tharpe of Midland City, Ala.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Jesse Rowell.

There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church in Goshen. Pastors Steve Thomas and Jane Buller will officiate. Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Tharpe was a lifelong mechanic with a career spanning 50 years. In the early 1980s, he opened Tharpe's Auto Shop in Goshen and remained in business for 20 years before retiring in 2004. He attended Walnut Hill Mennonite Church, was an avid golfer and enjoyed old movies, especially John Wayne westerns.