A compassionate guide to finding obituaries, reading recent services, leaving condolences, and understanding the full range of care offered by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory across Central Virginia.
About Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. has been one of Central Virginia’s most trusted family-owned funeral providers since 1933 — nearly a century of compassionate service to the communities of Lynchburg, Bedford, Roanoke, Smith Mountain Lake, and Madison Heights.
The story of Tharp begins with Glenn W. Tharp, a World War II veteran who served under General Patton and was awarded both the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. After the war, Glenn entered funeral service in Bedford, Virginia, bringing to his work the same dedication and honor he showed in uniform. He faithfully served families for over 60 years before passing the business to his son, W. D. “Skip” Tharp.
Today, Chris Tharp — Glenn’s grandson — serves as President and owner, making Tharp a true three-generation family business. Co-owner Murrell W. Thornhill IV, a licensed funeral director since 2003 and Army veteran, brings his own commitment to service and community alongside Chris.
“At Tharp, we believe every family deserves support, understanding, and a place where healing can begin.”
— Tharp Funeral Home & CrematoryTharp is a member of SELECTED Independent Funeral Homes, a national network that holds its members to the highest standards of professional care and ethical service. The funeral home is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across all five locations — because grief doesn’t keep office hours.
How to Find Tharp Funeral Home Obituaries
Tharp publishes obituaries through several channels — their own website, major obituary platforms, and community obituary directories. Here is every place you can search:
Visit the official Tharp obituaries page
The primary source for all Tharp obituaries is tharpfuneralhome.com/obituaries. This page lists the most recent obituaries across all five locations with names, photos, service details, and options to send flowers or leave condolences. This is always the most up-to-date source.
Search Legacy.com by location
Legacy.com hosts obituaries from all Tharp locations. Search separately for each location:
Search Echovita.com
Echovita publishes Tharp obituaries with the option to offer condolences, tributes, or create a free online memorial. Visit Echovita — Tharp Roanoke for Roanoke-area obituaries.
Contact the funeral home directly
For older obituaries, obituaries not yet posted online, or to confirm service details, call Tharp directly at (434) 237-9424 (Lynchburg main) or (866) 237-9424 (toll-free). Staff are available around the clock.
How to Search for a Specific Obituary
When you’re looking for a particular person’s obituary, use these steps to find it as quickly as possible:
Go to tharpfuneralhome.com/obituaries
Open tharpfuneralhome.com/obituaries on any device. The page loads the most recent obituaries automatically — scan this list first if you’re looking for someone who passed recently.
Use the search field to enter the person’s name
Type the first name, last name, or both into the search field. Partial name searches work — if you’re unsure of the spelling, try the first few letters of the last name. Results will update as you type.
Open the obituary listing
Click on the person’s name or photo to open their full obituary page. The page includes: their full name, age, city of residence, date of passing, biographical details, surviving family members, service details (if scheduled), and options for condolences and flowers.
Check service details and location
Service information — including the date, time, and location of visitation, funeral service, or graveside service — is listed on the obituary page when available. Note the specific Tharp location to get directions if you plan to attend.
If not found — try Legacy.com or call
If the obituary isn’t on the Tharp website yet, try legacy.com and search by name. For obituaries not yet posted, or for older services, call (434) 237-9424 — staff can confirm service information immediately.
Recent Obituaries: What to Expect
Tharp Funeral Home serves dozens of families across Central Virginia each month. Their obituary page is updated continuously as new services are arranged. Here is what a Tharp obituary typically includes:
- Full name, age, and city of residence Including any nicknames or names the person was known by in the community
- Date of passing and brief cause or circumstance when shared by the family
- Biographical narrative Life story, birthplace, education, career, faith community, hobbies, and personal passions — written with care by the family and funeral home staff
- List of surviving family members Spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings — and those who preceded them in death
- Service schedule Visitation hours, funeral or memorial service times, graveside service details, and the specific Tharp location hosting the service
- Officiant and music details when included by the family
- Memorial donation suggestions Charities or causes the family wishes to honor in lieu of flowers
- Photo of the deceased Shared when provided by the family
- Options to leave condolences, share memories, send flowers, or subscribe to grief support messages
How to Leave Condolences & Tributes
One of the most meaningful things you can do for a grieving family is offer a personal message of condolence. Tharp’s obituary pages make this simple and accessible to anyone — you don’t need to be local or attend the service to reach the family with your words.
Open the person’s obituary page
Navigate to tharpfuneralhome.com/obituaries and click the person’s name to open their full obituary.
Find the condolence or tribute section
Scroll down the obituary page to find the condolence form, guest book, or tribute section. This may also be available through Legacy.com if the obituary is hosted there.
Write your message
Enter your name and a personal message. You can share a memory of the person, a word of comfort to the family, or simply a brief expression of sympathy. There is no wrong way to express genuine care. A few heartfelt sentences are always more meaningful than a formal paragraph.
Submit and share
Submit your condolence. It will appear in the online guest book visible to the family and other visitors. You can also share the obituary page via email or social media so others who knew the person can pay their respects.
How to Send Flowers to a Tharp Funeral Home Service
Flowers are one of the oldest and most universal expressions of sympathy — a tangible way to honor a life and comfort a family during their time of loss. Here is how to arrange floral delivery through Tharp:
Find the obituary and click “Send Flowers”
On the individual obituary page at tharpfuneralhome.com/obituaries, there is a “Send Flowers” option linked to local florists. Click it to browse arrangements sized for sympathy and funeral settings.
Choose your arrangement
Select from standing sprays, casket flowers, sympathy bouquets, or potted plants. For the funeral or visitation, standing arrangements and sprays are most appropriate. Potted plants are a thoughtful option for the home afterward. Include a personal card message with your order.
Confirm delivery timing and location
Delivery to the correct Tharp location at the right time is critical. Flowers should arrive before the visitation or service begins — ideally at least 2 hours prior. Call the specific Tharp location to confirm service timing and the exact delivery address before placing your order.
- Lynchburg: (434) 237-9424
- Bedford: (540) 586-3443
- Roanoke: (540) 491-9994
- Madison Heights: (434) 929-0055
- Moneta / SML: (540) 721-9375
Consider a memorial donation instead
Many families today request charitable donations in lieu of flowers — check the obituary carefully for any such request. If donations are mentioned, the obituary will specify the organization. You can honor both: send a simple arrangement and also make a small donation.
Subscribe to Obituary Alerts
Staying connected to your community means staying informed. Tharp Funeral Home makes it easy to receive notifications when new obituaries are posted — so you never miss word about someone in your circle.
Funeral & Cremation Services Offered
Tharp Funeral Home provides a full spectrum of services — from traditional funeral arrangements to simple direct cremation — tailored to the needs and values of each family they serve. All services can be arranged in person at any location or, for many options, entirely from home online.
Traditional Funeral Service
Full-service funeral with visitation, chapel service, and committal — personalized to reflect the life, faith, and personality of your loved one
Cremation Services
Full range of cremation options from direct cremation to full-service cremation with memorial. Online cremation arrangements available from home
Memorial Services
Meaningful memorial celebrations honoring a life — held at the funeral home, a church, a park, or any location that holds meaning for your family
Graveside Services
Intimate outdoor committal services at the graveside — appropriate for families who prefer a simpler, private farewell
Pre-Planning Arrangements
Document your wishes and protect your family before the need arises — available in full online from home, or in person at any Tharp location
Veteran Services
Military honors, benefit assistance, and specialized tributes for veterans — a cause especially close to the Tharp family’s heart since founder Glenn Tharp’s service in WWII
Flowers & Sympathy Gifts
Floral arrangements, sympathy gifts, and memory items available through partner florists — linked directly from each obituary page
Pet Loss Services
Tharp understands that the loss of a beloved pet deserves compassion and dignity too — pet cremation and memorial services available
Pre-Planning: One of the Most Thoughtful Gifts You Can Give
Pre-planning your funeral arrangements isn’t morbid — it’s one of the most compassionate things you can do for the people who love you. When families face loss without a plan, they must make dozens of difficult and expensive decisions in a matter of hours, while grieving. A pre-arranged plan removes that burden entirely.
What Pre-Planning Includes
- Document your wishes for burial or cremation Your family will never have to guess or disagree about what you wanted
- Choose your service type, music, readings, and personal touches The details that make a memorial service feel truly like you — not a generic farewell
- Select merchandise (casket, urn, vault) at today’s prices Pre-funding arrangements may lock in current pricing — protecting your family from future cost increases
- Designate a funeral home and location So your family knows exactly where to turn when the time comes
- Relieve your family of financial and logistical decisions during their most vulnerable time
Start online — no pressure, no obligation
Tharp’s pre-planning process can begin entirely from home at tharpfuneralhome.com. Click “Pre-Planning” to access their online arrangement tool — cremation and burial options are both available to explore and document at your own pace.
Attend a free Pre-Planning seminar
Tharp regularly hosts in-person Pre-Planning seminars at their locations. As a gesture of care, they provide a complimentary meal for attendees. These events are educational, compassionate, and never high-pressure. Contact any Tharp location to ask about the next scheduled seminar.
Tell your family where your plan is documented
The most common failure of pre-planning is that the family doesn’t know it exists. Once complete, tell at least one trusted person that you’ve made arrangements with Tharp and where they can find the paperwork.
Grief Support Resources
Loss doesn’t end when the service concludes. The weeks, months, and years that follow a death can be among the most disorienting of a person’s life. Tharp Funeral Home understands this — and they offer ongoing support that extends well beyond the funeral itself.
Weekly Grief Messages
Subscribe to one year of weekly messages designed to provide strength and comfort — delivered to your inbox throughout the first year of loss, when grief is often most intense
Online Grief Resources
Tharp’s website includes a library of grief support articles, guides for navigating loss, and resources for specific types of bereavement — including the loss of a spouse, parent, or child
Community Support
Tharp partners with local nonprofit organizations to connect bereaved families with grief counselors, support groups, and community resources in the Lynchburg and Central Virginia area
Memorial Tributes Online
Each obituary page remains accessible indefinitely — families can revisit, add memories, and feel connected to their loved one’s online tribute long after the service
Veteran Services & Military Honors
Serving veterans holds a particularly sacred place in Tharp Funeral Home’s history. Founder Glenn W. Tharp served under General Patton in World War II, earning both the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his valor. That legacy of military honor is woven into how Tharp cares for every veteran family they serve.
- Military honors coordination — flag presentation, rifle salute, taps, and full military ceremony Tharp works with local veterans’ organizations and military units to arrange appropriate honors
- VA benefits assistance — navigating burial benefits, burial flags, and Presidential Memorial Certificates Tharp’s staff are experienced in helping families access the full range of VA burial benefits available to eligible veterans
- Personalized veteran tributes — service branch insignia, military photos, patriotic music, and service memorabilia incorporated into the memorial
- Burial in national or veterans cemeteries — coordination with qualifying cemetery locations in Virginia
- Gold Star family support — specialized sensitivity and care for families of fallen service members
All Tharp Funeral Home Locations
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory operates five locations across Central Virginia — all family-owned, all staffed by compassionate professionals, and all available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Lynchburg — Main Location
Lynchburg, VA 24502
Bedford
Bedford, VA 24523
Roanoke
Roanoke, VA 24019
Moneta / Smith Mountain Lake
Moneta, VA 24121
Madison Heights
Madison Heights, VA 24572
Map — Tharp Funeral Home Lynchburg (Main Location)
📍 Get Directions to Tharp Funeral Home Lynchburg → 220 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502
Helpful Tips for Families
When You Need to Call Immediately
If a death has just occurred or is imminent, call Tharp at (434) 237-9424 or toll-free at (866) 237-9424. Staff are available around the clock — you will speak with a compassionate, knowledgeable person at any hour. You do not need to make any decisions in that first call. Just reaching out is enough to start the process of care.
What to Bring When Meeting with the Funeral Director
- The deceased’s full legal name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth Required for death certificate and documentation
- A recent photograph for the obituary
- Clothing for the deceased if choosing burial Something they loved wearing or that reflects who they were
- Any pre-arrangement documents if previously made
- Information about military service (DD-214) if the deceased was a veteran This is needed to arrange military honors and access VA burial benefits
- Preferred cemetery information if burial is desired
- Names and relationships of surviving family members for the obituary
How to Write an Obituary
Tharp’s staff will guide you through writing the obituary, but many families find it meaningful to contribute their own words. A good obituary tells the story of who the person was — not just the dates. Include: what they did for work, what they loved, what made them laugh, what they believed, what they meant to people. Even one or two specific memories make an obituary come alive.
Don’t Wait to Pre-Plan
If you’re reading this guide because someone else has passed, there may be no better time to think about your own pre-planning. The clarity of grief — seeing exactly what a family goes through — often motivates people to take that step. Tharp’s online pre-planning tool at tharpfuneralhome.com allows you to begin without obligation, from home, at whatever pace feels right.
Check the Obituary Page Regularly If You’re Waiting for a Notification
If you are expecting to hear about a service for someone who is gravely ill, subscribe to Tharp’s obituary alerts so you’re notified the moment a new obituary is posted — rather than finding out through social media or by chance.
The Tharp Family’s WWII Legacy Matters to Their Service
It’s worth knowing that Glenn Tharp’s founding values — duty, honor, service, humility — still permeate how Tharp operates today. Chris Tharp and Murrell Thornhill both carry that ethic into their leadership. When you work with Tharp, you’re not working with a corporation. You are working with a family that has chosen funeral service as its calling, generation after generation.
All Resources & Links
| Resource | Link / Contact | What It’s For |
|---|---|---|
| Official Obituaries Page | tharpfuneralhome.com/obituaries | Most recent obituaries, search, condolences, flowers |
| Tharp Official Website | tharpfuneralhome.com | All services, pre-planning, grief support, locations |
| Pre-Planning (Online) | tharpfuneralhome.com > Pre-Planning | Document your wishes from home — cremation or burial |
| Legacy.com — Lynchburg | Legacy.com Lynchburg | Obituaries, email alerts, condolences, flowers |
| Legacy.com — Bedford | Legacy.com Bedford | Bedford obituaries and service information |
| Legacy.com — Roanoke | Legacy.com Roanoke | Roanoke obituaries and service information |
| Legacy.com — Madison Heights | Legacy.com Madison Heights | Madison Heights obituaries |
| Echovita — Roanoke | Echovita Tharp Roanoke | Condolences, tributes, free online memorials |
| facebook.com/TharpFuneralHome | Service announcements, grief resources, community updates | |
| Main Phone (Lynchburg) | (434) 237-9424 | All general inquiries — 24/7 |
| Toll-Free | (866) 237-9424 | Toll-free from anywhere — 24/7 |
| Bedford Phone | (540) 586-3443 | Bedford location — 24/7 |
| Roanoke Phone | (540) 491-9994 | Roanoke location — 24/7 |
| Moneta / SML Phone | (540) 721-9375 | Smith Mountain Lake area — 24/7 |
| Madison Heights Phone | (434) 929-0055 | Madison Heights location — 24/7 |
| General Email | info@tharpfuneralhome.com | General inquiries to the Lynchburg main office |
| Directions — Lynchburg | 220 Breezewood Dr, Lynchburg VA | Google Maps to main Lynchburg location |
Frequently Asked Questions
Note: This guide is published by FuneralHomeObituaries.org as an independent informational resource. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory. For the most current obituary listings, service details, and pricing information, always visit tharpfuneralhome.com directly or call (434) 237-9424.