Barbara Louise "Barb" (Riggs) Tharp

Barbara “Barb” Louise (Riggs) Tharp, 77, of Kokomo, passed away 10:30 am Sunday May 14, 2023, at her home. She was born at home in Burns City, IN, on November 11, 1945, the daughter of the late J.D. and Florene (Lewis) Riggs. On July 21, 1962, she married Charles Ross Tharp at the Kokomo Assembly of God, and he survives.

Words cannot express what a beautiful heart you had.  You raised six kids of your own and helped raise at least a dozen neighborhood kids.  Yes, we were that house! If you stepped foot in our house, mom was feeding.  If you needed a place to sleep, mom would make a pallet for you.  If you were running from the town Marshall, mom would find you a good hiding place! Lol! 

We remember the long hot summer days and saying we were bored.  Mom would say, ok kids, lets go on an adventure!  She’d make sack lunches and we’d all walk to the back of a field, or through some woods, or maybe a mile down the road. Then mom would break out our sack lunches, we’d eat and tell stories.  Then we’d pack up and head home.  Mom would truly make it an adventure. 

Sundays were always great! Can you imagine getting six kids ready for church, well she did!! Mom would hang all our Sunday clothes on the chandelier in the dining room every Saturday evening.  Ironed and ready to go. Sunday morning she’d make breakfast and get us all ready.  After church she’d make dinner for us and whoever came home from church with us.  Then load us all back up for night church.

Mom made life fun! She was truly our ray of sunshine.  She held our world together with her quirky sense of humor and an undying love for her family.  Family or not, in our house, mom made everybody feel like family!

In addition to her husband Charlie, she is survived by her children, Bruce (Lynn) Tharp, Penny (Mike) Brunett, Christi (Dale) Miller, Carol Sears, Charlie Tharp, Michael (Christy) Tharp; 25 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Candace (Lowell) Pemberton; numerous aunts and uncles.

She was preceded in death by her parents, J.D and Florene Riggs; grandchildren, Jacob Tharp, Timothy Tharp; and son-in-law, Doug Sears.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 1 pm to 4 pm Saturday June 10, 2023, at the Sharpsville Gym, 405 South Brown Street, Sharpsville, IN 46068. Stout & Son Funeral Home – Sharpsville Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.