Phyllis Caroline (Rowe) Tharp

Mrs. Phyllis C. Tharp, 97, of Bristol, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, June 17, 2022 from lung cancer. She was born in Elkhart on July 20, 1924 to the late Russell and Sylvia (Eller) Rowe and later married Dale J. Tharp on May 1, 1953. He passed away in 2011.

Surviving Phyllis are her daughters Deborah (Jeff) Moore of Union, Michigan and Cheri Neterer of Elkhart; her son Ronald (Virginia) Ravenscroft of Bristol, siblings Delbert Rowe of West Virginia and Regina Shank of Elkhart; 7 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren, as well as a large group of extended family and friends. She is also preceded in death by 6 brothers and sisters and a granddaughter, Makayla.

 Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart will host Phyllis’ celebration of life and homegoing service on Friday, June 24, 2022 at 1:00 pm, with visitation beginning at 11:00 am. Pastors David Lade of Bethel Assembly of God and Tim Fisher of Crossroads Community Church, both of Elkhart, will be the officiants and burial will follow the homegoing services at Zion Cemetery in Bristol.

Phyllis spent many years as a secretary in the retail industry, but her real love was her family. She loved playing games, Rook, Old Maid, Phase 10 and dominos. In her younger years she was known to be an accomplished bowler.  She volunteered at LoveWay, Inc. for almost 30 years helping handicapped children. Going to garage sales was another one of her favorite past times, where she collected and repaired jewelry.

Phyllis grew up in the Assemblies of God Church, but later attended Crossroads. She was the quintessential “lake person”, because she simply loved sitting on the porch watching the water, enjoying the sunshine and feeding her birds with the company of her faithful Papillion, “Buddy”. 

Friends and family wishing to make a donation in Phyllis’ memory may do so by donating to LoveWay, Inc. of Middlebury. Additionally, please be sure to thoroughly browse Phyllis’ obit page, as you are able to leave condolences and memories, post photographs on her memory wall, and order other funerary items in regard to the family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis Caroline (Rowe) Tharp, please visit our floral store.