Ellen Estelle Jones Tharp Died on July 3rd, 2020 at the age of 100.  She was born on January 19, 1920 in Helena, Montana, where her father had homesteaded, to the late Herbert  and Fern (Storm) Jones. When she was three, the family moved back to  Illinois where she spent her formative years. She graduated from New Trier high school in Wilmette in 1937, and entered Kalamazoo College, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she graduated in 1941 with a bachelor of science  degree. She taught grade school in Michigan for two years, before moving to Baltimore, Maryland, where her fiancé was employed  by Westinghouse Electric corporation. She married Nelson Tharp on June 26, 1943.  They lived for many years in the Baltimore suburb of Ellicott City, where they raised five sons.     

     Although she occasionally taught school or substituted after that, she spent the majority of her time  as a homemaker, mother, volunteer, community activist and organizer,  and a tireless force for good in the community. 

      She was a person of strong Christian beliefs and principles.  She and her husband became members of the Catonsville Presbyterian Church  in 1944 and remained active throughout her life.  She taught Sunday school, sponsored youth groups and the young married couples club, performed in plays, served several terms as a Deacon and an Elder, and was active in  The Church and Society and the Peace and Justice committees.  One program involved making monthly trips to visit congressmen in order to urge them to support these themes. She was also active in the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women.

       In addition to her many social activist causes, she had many other interests including baking, gardening, hiking, camping, canoeing with family and friends,  and “clowning”.

      She is survived by her sons: Bruce and his wife Leslie of Columbia Maryland; Steve and his wife Nell of Charlottesville, Virginia; David and his wife Judy of Waynesboro, Virginia; Paul and his wife Linda Dodson of Windsor Mill, Maryland; Rick and his partner, Debbie Albrecht of Mt Airy Maryland; five grandchildren, nine great-grand children, and four great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 76 years, Nelson and one grandchild, Kourtenay Tharp.

A celebration of Ellen and Nelson’s lives is planned to take place at Catonsville Presbyterian Church at a later date. Details are incomplete at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Catonsville Presbyterian Church Grace Fund.