Marshall L. Tarpley
Albany, GA - Born on May 8, 1922, in High Shoals, GA, Marshall L.
"Chief" Tarpley died February 28, 2006, at the Veterans Hospital in
Dublin, GA.
He is survived by his wife, Myrtle Bonner Tarpley, children, Marshall L.
Tarpley Jr., and his wife Glenda of Weatherford, TX, Gary B. Tarpley of
Albany, GA, and Beverly Tarpley Long and her husband Tyler of Lexington,
VA; a granddaughter, Briena Nichole Phelps of Macon, GA; Great-grandson,
Gabriel Phelps; three brothers, Bob Tarpley of Charleston, SC, Jack
Tarpley of Dalton, GA, and Harry Tarpley of Hendersonville, TN; and a
sister, Rebecca Tarpley of Stone Mountain, GA.
Enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and
volunteering for submarine duty, he completed six war patrols on the USS
Raton and the USS Spot, and was on a total of seven submarines and
completed his final tour of duty on the Franklin D. Roosevelt aircraft
carrier. Chief of the Boat on both the USS Sarda and the USS Clemagore,
he ended his naval career serving on recruiting duty in Abany, GA,
retiring there in 1968.
Known by friends as "Chief", he enjoyed a full
and active life involved in local and state political campaigns, as a
regular greet at First Christian Church, and was a feared dominoes
player with his regular buddies around Abany. He loved fishing, reading
the morning paper, riding in his truck and most all giving his "unique"
creations to everyone he met.
Among his talents were making pear preserves, designing
walking sticks and the production of the ultimate in old-fashioned,
hand-held fans.
A brother, a husband and a father,
grandfather, and great-grandfather, but perhaps most special, he was a
World War II submarine veteran that fought to secure the freedom of our
country.
Among his citations are the Submarine Combat Pin, American
campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory
Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
He attended the annual
meetings of his shipmates from the USS Spot and recently was reunited
with one shipmate he had not seen in over 60 years. His family
accompanied him to the dedication of the World War II monument in
Washington, DC in 2004.
At annual
Veterans Day celebrations, he often asked that others remember "his 3600
shipmates aboard 52 submarines that are still on patrol."
His funeral service was conducted Friday,
March 3, 2006, at 10 a.m. at First Christian Church, Rev. Tommy Lowery
and Mr. Charlie Jenkins will officiate. Internment followed in
Andersonville National Cemetery.
The family received friends that day from 7
p.m. until 9 p.m. at Mathews Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make
contributions to one of the following St. Mary's Submarine Museum, 102
St. Mary's Street West, St. Mary's, GA 31558; First Christian Church
Building Fund, 416 N. Westover Rd, Albany, GA 31707 or Albany Community
Hospice, P. O. Box 1828, Albany, GA 31702.
