Tharp, Zella

Zella Tharp, 86, of Lowden, Iowa, died Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, at the Mechanicsville Nursing and Rehab Center in Mechanicsville, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, 2013,  at Chapman Funeral Home in Clarence, Iowa. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, at Chapman Funeral Home, with the Rev. Barb Muhs officiating. Burial will be in Massillon Cemetery.

She is survived by three sons, Dennis Tharp, Michael (Julie) Tharp, and Greg Tharp, all of Lowden; son-in-law, Charles Clarke of Queensland, Australia; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, James (Shirley) Eaton of Alta, Iowa, and Clarence “Butch” (Carolyn) Eaton of Creston, Iowa; sister, Maria Eaton of West Des Moines, Iowa; and sisters-in-law, Phyllis Eaton of Grand Mound, and June Tharp of Wilmington, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; brothers, Richard, Marion, and Leo Eaton; sisters, Ruth Lindsey and Arline Jones; and daughter, Colleen Clarke.

Zella was born April 25, 1927, in Vinton, Iowa, to Floyd and Minnie (Freeman) Eaton. She was united in marriage to William Tharp on Sept. 21, 1947, in Lancaster, Wis. He died in 2008.

Zella bowled in a women's league for many years. She also sold Avon for over 40 years and was in the Presidents Club. Zella spent many years waitressing at the Arrow Cafe and many other restaurants.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Unity Point Hospice, Mechanicsville Nursing and Rehab Center, Cedar County Health, and Sandy Sander for her special care.

Online condolences may be directed to .

Published Sept. 20, 2013, in The Gazette