OBITUARIES

Col. Harvey Wendell Gillette

Col. Harvey Wendell Gillette, 92, died Oct. 25, 2013, at his residence in Bella Vista, Ark. He was born Dec. 4, 1920, in Eau Claire, Wis., to Cecil and Josephine Olson Gillette.

He was a navigator and head of electronics at NORAD in the United States Air Force, and retired after 29 years of service. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster.

On Aug. 15, 1945, he married Agnes Marie Myszkowski, who preceded him in death. He married Marlene Edith Smith on July 12, 1977.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene, of Bella Vista; children, Robert (Sharon) Gillette, John Gillette and Kathy Gillette, all of Houston, Stephen (Katherine) Gillette of Berthoud, Colo., and Janice Lucchesi of Chicago, Ill.; stepsons, Owen ( Teena) Smith of Marshall, Texas, and T.J. Smith of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, at Memorial Gardens in Colorado Springs.

In lieu of fl owers, those who wish may make donations to the Wounded Warriors Project or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Arrangements were by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.

Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.

Joan K. Ledbetter

Joan K. Ledbetter, 84, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, at Circle of Life Hospice House in Bentonville, Ark. She was born July 26, 1929, in Louisville, Ky., to Kathryn Gross and James H. Warndorf.

She worked for J.C. Penney for many years. She moved to northwest Arkansas in 2003 from Nashville, Tenn.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by two daughters, Lori Ervin and her husband, Scot, of Jackson, Tenn., and Lynne Campbell and her husband, Mike, of Franklin, Tenn.; and four grandchildren.

No local services are planned at this time.

Cremation was by Epting Funeral Home of Bella Vista.

Condolences may be made at www.eptingfuneral home.webs.com.

Dr. Victor V. “Doc” Tharp

Dr. Victor V. “Doc” Tharp, 92, died on Oct. 27, 2013, in Bella Vista, Ark. He was born on April 30, 1921, to Harry and Alice (Hodgson) Tharp on the home farm in Hemlock, Ohio.

He started college at Ohio State University but enlisted in the Marine Corps on the Monday after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served the entire World War II in the South Pacifi c theater. After the war, he returned to the family farm. He married Marilyn Elaine Sipe on March 9, 1947. He graduated from Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1954. Wanting a large animal practice, he practiced for 33 years in Granton, Wis.

After retiring, he went to work for the federal government, supervising meat inspectors for several years. The couple retired to Bella Vista, where he followed his passion for golf. He loved reading history, in particular the Civil War. He loved sports in general, especially college football.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother, Vernon.

He is survived by his three children, Margaret Anne (Tharp) Paulson, Laura Bethany (Tharp) Thomas and Daniel Dee Tharp; two sisters, Mary (Tharp) Bope and Joan (Tharp) Hendry; two granddaughters, Bethany (Paulson) VerKilen and Melony (Paulson) Becker; four grandsons, Andrew Menon, Ryan Tharp, Joshua Tharp and Zachary Tharp; six great-granddaughters; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Private services will be held in the spring at a favorite park where he and Marilyn used to go and watch the Ohio River join the Mississippi River.

Memorial contributions may be made to either the Granton FFA Alumni, in care of Granton High School, 217 N. Main St., Granton, WI 54436, or the High Ground Veterans Memorial at Neillsville.

Arrangements were by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.

Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.