Tharsella Alvera Rosemary Scheller Sevareid

1923 - 2008

Tharsella Alvera Rosemary Scheller Sevareid, "Tar" to all her friends, 85, of Radford, died Friday, August 15, 2008 in her home. She was born April 21, 1923 in Wisconsin. After graduation from Prentice High School in 1940, Tar attended the Marshfield School of Nursing, earning her RN degree in 1945. Soon after, she joined the Army Nurse Corps and served in Germany, where she received the "Nurse of the Year" award. After her Army discharge, she contracted polio while touring Europe. When Tar recovered, she worked for Delta Airlines as a stewardess. Five years later, in 1952, she was re-called to active duty. She was stationed in Japan and served for thirty months. Japan is where she met and married then Major John W. Sevareid and had her first child.
Tar retired from the Army and began life as an Army wife, following her husband's military career. Tar especially loved the people and customs of Bangkok, Thailand, where her fifth child was born. In 1964 her husband was transferred to Radford, Va. as Commander-in-Chief of the Army Ammunition Plant. Shortly after his transfer he was called to serve in Vietnam.
When Col. Sevareid returned to the states, they decided Radford would be a wonderful place to stay and raise their family. Tar immersed herself in her new community, volunteering for the American Red Cross, school health clinics St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital, Radford Community Hospital, Boys Home, Meals on Wheels, PEO, the Linus Blanket Project and Grace Episcopal Church.
Tar had numerous interests, including crafts, gardening, bridge and bird watching. Tar loved her husband, her children, grandchildren, her friends, her church and her country.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Sevareid, Col. U. S. Army Retired and a daughter, Jean Sevareid Hochella. Surviving are three daughters and their spouses, Ann Sevareid Miller and husband, Rod, Durham, N.C., Susan Sevareid Dickerson and husband, Sam, Blacksburg, Sally Sevareid and husband, Monty Foster, West Palm Beach, Fla.; a son, John W. Sevareid, Jr., Radford; and stepson, Karl Sevareid, Berkley, Calif. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Samantha Jean Dickerson and Cody John Dickerson; along with a sister and brother-in-law, Deanna and Paul Beaudry, Slinger, Wisc.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, August 17, 2008 at Grace Episcopal Church, Fourth and Harvey Streets, Radford, with the Rev. Claud McCauley officiating. Interment, for family members only, will follow the service in the Grace Episcopal Church yard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Memorial Garden, C/O Grace Episcopal Church, 210 Fourth Street, Radford, Va.
The family would like to thank the staff at UVA's Nerancy Neuro ICU, Carilion Hospice and all her wonderful friends for their care, compassion and support. DeVilbiss Funeral Home, Radford, is handling arrangements.