Victor V. 'Doc' Tharp DVM

Victor V. "Doc" Tharp, DVM, passed away on Oct. 27, 2013, at the age of 92, in Bella Vista, Ark. He was born on April 30, 1921, on the home farm in Hemlock, Ohio. He graduated from Hemlock, Ohio, High School in 1939. He started college at Ohio State University, but enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on the Monday after Pearl Harbor was attacked, and served the entire World War II in the South Pacific theater, with a rank of lance corporal. After the war, he returned to the family farm. He married Marilyn Elaine Sipe on March 9, 1947, who helped him through college along with the GI Bill. He graduated from Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1954. During college, all three of their children were born, Margaret Anne (Tharp) Paulson, Laura Bethany (Tharp) Thomas and Daniel Dee Tharp. Wanting a large animal practice, he was invited to consider Granton, Wis., by Francis Steiner, the local high school agriculture teacher. He practiced for 33 years in Granton, loving his veterinary practice. After retiring, he went to work for the federal government supervising meat inspectors for several years. He and Marilyn retired to Bella Vista, Ark., where he followed his passion for golf. He loved reading history, in particular the Civil War. He loved sports in general, especially college football. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Alice (Hodgson) Tharp; and his older brother, Vernon. He is survived by his older sister, Mary (Tharp) Bope; his younger sister, Joan (Tharp) Hendry; his three children; two granddaughters, Bethany (Paulson) VerKilen and Melony (Paulson) Becker; four grandsons, Andrew Menon, Ryan Tharp, Joshua Tharp and Zachary Tharp; six great-granddaughters; and four great-great-grandchildren. Private services will be held in the spring at a favorite park where he and Marilyn used to go and watch the Ohio River join the Mississippi River. If you wish to make a memorial, please send it to either the Granton FFA Alumni (in care of Granton High School at 217 N. Main St., Granton, WI 54436); or the High Ground Veterans Memorial at Neillsville. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.