Owen Bruce Tharp

A memorial service for Owen Bruce Tharp, 73, Custer City resident, will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Kiesau Memorial Chapel of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home in Clinton, officiated by Rev. Buck Nicholson.

Tharp died Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, in the South Pointe Rehab and Care Center in Oklahoma City. He was born Nov. 26, 1940 in Elk City, the son of Russell Stanley Tharp and Helen Unity (Evans) Tharp.

He was raised in Custer City and graduated from Custer City High School in 1958.

Tharp continued his education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Tharp married Roxie Skeets Hamlin in 1963 in Bunch, Okla., and they made their home back in Custer City on the family farm.

He farmed most of his adult life as well as working for Circle S Paving, owning and operating a backhoe service and doing custom harvesting for more than 26 years.

Tharp later married Helen Jo (Phillips) Heintz on March 10, 1995 in Ft. Smith, Ark., and they made their home on the Custer City farm.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two sisters, Elizabeth Miller and Sonya Miller; and a brother, A.J. Tharp.

Tharp was a member of the Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Jo, of the home; their five children; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

The family has suggested those wanting to give a memorial contribution in Tharp’s honor may do so to Clinton’s Mission House.