Tharp, Ronald 'Ronnie'

Ronald “Ronnie” Tharp, 41, of Dandridge, Tenn., formerly of Vinton, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Dandridge following a sudden illness. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at First Christian Church in Vinton, with Pastor Connie Wacht officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Phillips Family Center, 605 Second Ave., Vinton.

“Ronnie” was born Nov. 28, 1969, in Iowa City, to William Frank Tharp and Linda Foster Felts. In his leisure “Ronnie” enjoyed racing and race cars.

“Ronnie” is survived by his father, William (Susan) Tharp of Vinton; his mother and stepfather, Linda (Ed) Felts of Dysart; his fiancee, Sherry Barkdoll Tharp of Dandridge; two daughters, Nicole Tharp of Vinton and Myranda Merchant of Knoxville, Tenn.; three brothers, Justin Tharp of Vinton, Scott Sondag of Brandon and Dustin Sondag of Vinton; two sisters, Tiffany (Ben) Mast of North English and Jessica (Scott) Good of Vinton; two grandchildren, Aiden Trachta and Isabella Beverly; grandmother, Lois Tharp of Vinton; and stepgrandmothers, Marjorie Foster of Dysart and Mary Raymond of Waterloo.

A memorial fund has been established.

Phillips Funeral Home, Vinton, is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family at

Published Nov. 17, 2011, in The Gazette