Dwain Cordell Tharpe

Dwain C. Tharpe, 83, retired principal of Crowville High School, died Monday, January 25, 2016 after a lengthy illness. Services for Mr. Tharpe will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Mulhearn Funeral Home Chapel in Winnsboro with the Rev. Wayne Ray, Rev. Marion Collier and Dr. Robert Burgess officiating. Burial will follow at the Crowville Masonic Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearns of Winnsboro. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of more than 57 years, Mary Patricia Littlefield Tharpe. The well-respected educator was born October 7, 1932 in Epps, Louisiana − the second of four children − to Louis Cordell “Ray” and Nell Olivia Hawkins Tharpe. As the only son, Dwain learned responsibility at an early age as many of the chores around the house fell to him to complete before and after school. Also, every morning he would saddle up on a rickety bicycle to deliver newspapers. That didnt stop him from maintaining perfect attendance in the third, fourth and fifth grades. He honed a work ethic that served him well in adulthood and was admired and respected by many for it. He excelled in athletics in high school as a member of the Epps Panthers basketball team and later, as part of championship basketball, tennis and badmitton teams in collegiate intramural competition. He attended Northeast Louisiana State College (now University of Louisiana-Monroe), obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in health, physical and safety education and a minor in social studies on May 30, 1955. One week later, he entered the U.S. Army. From 1955 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He rose from second lieutenant to first lieutenant at his discharge in 1957. He continued in the Army Reserve where he achieved the rank of captain before his discharge in 1964. In fall 1957, he began his teaching career at Epps High School as a social studies teacher. In 1961 he added the duties of assistant principal. He remained at Epps until 1963. He also continued his education, obtaining in August 1960 a Master of Education degree with an emphasis on school administration and supervision from Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. By 1975, he had completed the educational level of Masters Degree plus 45 hours from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe. In 1963, he was appointed principal of Crowville High School by the Franklin Parish School Board. He moved his young family to Crowville and in the fall, began the first of his 25 years as principal there. He retired in May 1988. His professional memberships include Phi Delta Kappa; Louisiana Association of School Executives; National Association of Secondary Principals; Louisiana Principals Association; Third District Principals Association; Franklin Parish Principals Association; Louisiana High School Athletic Association; District 3-A LHSAA past chairman. Dwain and Pat met in the spring of 1958 when he was officiating high school basketball games to earn extra money. Pat was teaching at Lake Providence at the time and it was her turn to collect money at the basketball games. They caught each others eyes and through the grace of God, it turned out to be a bond that would thrive for seven decades. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married on July 6, 1958 at the Kilbourne United Methodist Church. Dwain Tharpe has been active in the community. He was a member of the Crowville United Methodist Church where he served as an adult class Sunday School teacher, church lay leader and chairman of the administrative board and a state delegate to the Conference of Louisiana Methodists.He also served as vice president of North Franklin Water Works. He joined the Pioneer, La. Masonic Lodge in November 1954. He achieved a 32nd degree Mason in the Scottish Rites consistory while stationed at Fort Sill, Okla. He later transferred his membership to the Crowville Masonic Lodge No. 370, where he served in various leadership positions through the years. He earned his 50-year lodge pin in 2004. Education has always been a very important part of Mr. Tharpes life and the goals for his students and his family. It always brought a smile to his face to have a former youngster, now grown, come up and give him a hug. Their kind words meant so much to him. He loved gardening and working in his yard, inheriting a green thumb passed down from his mother. His yard was always full of beautiful flowers and greenery.He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Jacqueline Faye Tharpe Hamer, of Morgan City, Louisiana. Survivors include his wife Pat and three children: son Steven Dwain Tharpe and wife Connie of San Antonio, Texas; son Rev. Michael Scott Tharpe and wife Michelle of Kansas City, Missouri; and daughter Cherie Patricia Tharpe Anyan and husband Mark.Grandchildren include Kirstie and Abby Anyan of West Monroe, Louisiana; and Michaela Tharpe of Kansas City, Missouri.He also is survived by two sisters, Sybil Mae Tharpe Shivers and Frances Tharpe Woodard, both of Monroe, Louisiana; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Daryl Carson, Dr. Clayton Collier, Mike Collins, James Cupit, Tommy Lupo, Ricky Maxwell, Scott Parker and James Shirley.Honorary pallbearers include Nolan Comeaux, Alan Compton, Don McDuffie, Roy McDuffie, Vernon McManus, Kevin Oswell, Emmitt Richardson, Curtis Rush, Reddoch Windham and Vernon Wolf.The family would like to thank the staff of Plantation Manor for its special care of our loved one during his stay there. We also would like to offer a special thanks to Dr. Jeff Combetta and Dr. Frank Weinholt.In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Crowville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 30, Crowville, Louisiana 71230.