Martin Allen Tharp

A memorial service for Martin Allen Tharp, 78, of Nacogdoches will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Mosaic Church with Pastor Terrell Eggers officiating. 

Marty was born on July 9, 1946, in Houston to his parents, George and Hellen Tharp. Growing up alongside his siblings - Ed, Betsy, Benjamin, and Nancy – Marty was close to Ed in age making the two of them inseparable. Dad often shared fond stories of family trips to Austin, where he and his brother spent hours exploring the woods while visiting their grandparents. Dad’s family spent a lot of their time on the family farm in Sealy and cattle ranch in Lyons, Texas developing a love for hard work and the outdoors.

 From a young age, Marty always found pleasure in serving others, and hard work. Although school never came easy to dad, he strived to do his best and make the most out of life. Dad attended Bellaire High School and spent some time at East Texas Baptist University, until he was called to serve in the U.S. Army in 1968 in the Vietnam War. His courage and sense of responsibility were evident not just in his service to his country, but in the way he lived every day of his life.

In July of 1971, Marty married Patricia Cordell. Together, they built a beautiful family, raising three wonderful children—Teague, Tana, and Trudi. His role as a father was one of his greatest joys, and that joy only multiplied when he became a grandfather to Gabriel, Madeline, Kyle, and Kody. Marty’s love for his family was steadfast, and he cherished every moment spent with them.

Marty was a man of many roles. He was a businessman who owned his own feed store in Caldwell, Texas. He was a dedicated worker in the school system’s special education department and later served his community as a rural route carrier for the United States Postal Service. Even after retirement, dad snuck into the post office early in the morning to help sort the mail. After he was found out, he would still show up at the post office bringing breakfast and fellowship. But beyond his career, Marty’s true passion was serving others.

His heart for people was most evident in his service to his church. As a Sunday school teacher and mentor, he shared wisdom, encouragement, and a love for the Lord that left a lasting impact on those he taught. His faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of his life, guiding his actions, his words, and his unwavering kindness toward others. Marty didn’t just talk about faith—he lived it.

Marty had a remarkable ability to find humor in any situation, often using his signature sarcasm as a way of showing affection. His laugh was unmistakable—warm, infectious, and capable of brightening even the heaviest of days. He also had a deep appreciation for nature, hiking, and history, finding joy in God’s creation and the stories that shaped the world around him. Though we grieve the loss here on earth, the one thing we know for sure is Marty is with Jesus and reunited with his parents and his younger brother, Ben. His legacy of love, service, and faith will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

 May we honor his memory by embracing laughter and sharing the same unwavering faith in Jesus that he so beautifully demonstrated. Marty’s journey was marked by hard work and dedication to the family. Well done, good and faithful servant. You will be deeply missed until we see you again.

 With love and gratitude, Teague, Tana, and Trudi

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