Lenis C. "Joe" Tarpley

1934 - 2021

Lenis C. "Joe" Tarpley
January 22, 1934 - June 4, 2021
Columbus, Georgia - Lenis C. "Joe" Tarpley, 87, of Columbus, GA, passed away at his residence on June 4, 2021. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 6, 2021 from 3:00PM to 5:00PM at Striffler-Hamby. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 11:00 AM in the Edgewood Hall Chapel at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, with Rev. Rodney Porter and Rev. Mark Sasser officiating. Burial will be private for family only at Parkhill Cemetery.
Joe was born on January 22, 1934, in Toomsboro, Georgia, to the late Willie Arnold and Alice Carr Tarpley. He graduated from Manchester High School, and then served in the United States Army during the Korean War between 1953 and 1954. After returning from the war, Joe earned his Bachelor's degree from Valdosta State where he played baseball and majored in Business Administration. He also met his wife, Elaine, in college and they were fortunate to have 61 wonderful years of marriage together. He worked in sales with Procter & Gamble for 35 years before retiring in 1994.
Joe and his family loved to entertain guests and he was always to be found in the kitchen. Among his other favorite hobbies, he enjoyed fishing, listening to gospel quartets, and watching the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Braves, the Falcons and NASCAR.
Joe was a very active church member at Striplin Terrace UMC for 60 years. He was involved in all areas of the church: he taught Sunday school, led barbecues and fundraisers, was a trustee and leader of the church. In his retirement years, Joe loved performing comedy acts for local churches and nursing homes. He especially enjoyed his membership in the Sons of the American Revolution.
Joe Tarpley was known and loved by all who knew him for his kindness, his deep faith and his refreshing sense of humor.
In addition to his parents, Joe is preceded in death by his three sisters; Eunice Tuttle, Catherine Tarpley, and Gladys Tarpley.
Survivors include: his wife, Elaine Lewis Tarpley, three children; Leticia Tarpley-Oppedisano (Joe), Alacia Tarpley, Michelle Tarpley-Kullen (Martin), three grandchildren; George Tarpley Kullen, Charles Thomas Kullen and Lucy McRae Tarpley-Oppedisano, two sisters; Billie Hambrick (Steven), and Joyce Scarratt (Tony).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Striplin Terrace United Methodist Church at 4170 Striplin Terrace, Columbus, GA 31909 or to Columbus Hospice House at 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, GA 31909. Striffler-Hamby is entrusted with the arrangements.