Roy Covington Tharp

Roy Covington Tharp was born on January 23 1918 in Kentucky. He was the fourth child born to his parents Nannie Friend and Joseph Tharp, though Joseph also had another child from a first marriage. Joseph was a farmer and the family lived in Duncanon, Kentucky for many years before eventually moving to Milford, Ohio sometime after the birth of their 6th and final child. Roy and his siblings all attended school and Roy was very intelligent and excelled in French.


                            


On December 21 1940 Roy married Clara Louise Hunkler. They welcomed their first daughter Sandra in 1942. In May of 1944 Roy and his youngest brother Wade enlisted in the US Navy. Roy was on the USS Matthew and sent to the South Pacific while Wade was sent to Europe. Clara gave birth to a daughter not long after Roy deployed. In December of 1944, while both men were fighting overseas, their father Joseph passed away. Roy and Wade returned home in 1945.

                        


After the war Clara would eventually have two sons Jack and Terry. The family lived in Butler County, Ohio. Roy got a job as a supervisor with a paper manufacturing company. While Clara stayed home with the children.
                                
                                        Roy and Clara

The couple was married for 57 years when Roy passed away at the age of 79. He left behind his wife, 4 children, a sister Viola, as well as several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Roy is my 4th cousin 2x removed.