CARL EMORY TARPLEY SR.

Carl E. “Papa” Tarpley, peacefully passed on March 31, 2019.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 76 years, Etta Mae; his parents, The Rev. Emory N. Tarpley and Elizabeth S. Tarpley; his four brothers, Clarence, Cecil, Claude and Crippen Tarpley.

He is survived by his son, Carl E. (Sonny) Tarpley, Jr.; his beloved daughter-in-law, Joyce Tarpley; two granddaughters, Vickie Thomasson and Liz Graham; five great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.  A special thanks is given to his niece, Charlotte Garst for her years of devotion to him while he was in assisted living.

Carl was a graduate of Jefferson Senior High School and Tennessee Wesleyan College.  He served in the Merchant Marines during WWII and later retired from the Norfolk Southern Railway after forty years of service.

He was a kind and gentle person who deeply cared about his family, country, and his Methodist Church.  His family considered him a master of one-liners which will be forever remembered by all of us.

Visitation will be held at Lotz Funeral Home in Salem on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 11 a.m. with Graveside service to follow at Noon.    

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Choir Fund at First United Methodist Church, Salem, VA. 

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of CARL EMORY TARPLEY SR., please visit our Tree Store.