Jo Tharp, 91, Army wife became VP with bond firm
August 8, 2024
Marlyn Jo Vaughn Tharp of Pawleys Plantation died July 23. She was 91.
Known as Jo, she was born Aug. 26, 1932, in Tampa, Fla., the second of three daughters of James Alexander Vaughn and Annie Ruth Gregory Vaughn. Upon graduation from Tampa’s Hillsborough High School in 1950, she attended Wesleyan and Mercer universities in Macon, Ga. It was there that she met her future husband, Charles Bonner “Sonny” Tharp.
Mrs. Tharp settled into life as an Army officer’s wife, moving 17 times throughout the United States and abroad over 27 years while raising their three sons.
Her love of children, especially babies, led her to be a Sunday school teacher throughout her life as well as a Head Start kindergarten teacher, supporting children’s growth and early development.
Motivated to pursue her own career, Mrs. Tharp went to work as a bank teller without a college degree. She worked her way up to senior vice president at Nuveen, a municipal bond brokerage firm, guiding an all-female staff to become the top sales team in the country. Her fearlessness in a male-dominated industry inspired countless women in her life, including her nieces, granddaughters and colleagues.
After retiring to Pawleys Island to be near her sisters, Mrs. Tharp became a member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, the Francis Asbury Sunday School class and the Loula Ford Circle. She volunteered with Miss Ruby’s Kids, the early-childhood education program.
Much like her mother, she found enjoyment and peace cultivating beautiful and colorful flowers, especially peonies, later taking classes at Brookgreen Gardens to become a master gardener.
In addition to her husband of 72 years, she is survived by sons, James Gregory Tharp (Laura) of Pawleys Island and Marc Bonner Tharp of Fort Pierce, Fla.; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Tharp (Laura), Bryan Tharp (Anna Marie), Kaelyn Tharp Warden (Daniel), Ashley Tharp, and Courtney Tharp; her great-grandchildren, Fisher Tharp, Audrey Tharp, Emily Tharp and Sonny Tharp; her younger sister, Jacquelyn Vaughn McCants of Tampa; and many nieces and nephews.
Another son, Tracy Tomlinson Tharp, died before her, as did her older sister, Patsy Vaughn Schooler.
A memorial service was held Aug. 3 at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. Ross Chellis and the Rev. Dr. Dora Gafford.
Memorials may be made to the church, Miss Ruby’s Kids or the Alzheimer’s Association.
