Augustus ‘Wink’ Tharpe
Augustus “Wink” Tharpe died Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at University Hospital. He was 88.
He was born Oct. 24, 1919, in Bradfordville, Ky., to Samuel and Hazel (Mell) Tharpe.
Mr. Tharpe graduated from Roanoke High School in 1937 and from MU with a degree in engineering in 1950. Mr. Tharpe married Mary DeWitt on April 2, 1945, in Roanoke. She died earlier.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and worked for MU from 1960 until 1987, when he retired. Mr. Tharpe was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia.
He is survived by a son, Mike Tharpe of Columbia; a daughter, Sarah Loring of Leawood, Kan.; a sister, Hazel Willett of Linn; grandchildren Sam, Joe, Mary Kate Loring and Virginia Tharpe; and several nephews. Mr. Tharpe’s brother, Buddy, died earlier.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, at First Presbyterian Church, 16 Hitt St. in Columbia. Visitation will follow at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to PET project, 1908 Heriford Road, Columbia, MO 65201.