George Clayton Tarpley

Sharptown, MD – It is with great sadness that the family of George Clayton Tarpley announces his passing at the age of 83 years after a long and valiant battle against Parkinson’s disease. George will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Delores Wagner Tarpley, eldest son Clayton (Robbie), grandchildren Clay (Keriann), Faith and Jason and great-grandchildren George Clayton II and Reese. He also leaves behind an adoring sister, Ann Rose and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death his middle son, Cliff and greatly missed his youngest son Steve. Born in Brooklyn, NY, George was one of six siblings raised by his father, George Burnell Tarpley and mother, Mary Murray Wilson Tarpley. He attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, then earned his Associate's Degree in Chemistry from Brooklyn College. Feeling the strong need to serve his country, he entered the Air Force achieving the rank of Airman 1st Class as a Public Affairs photographer; sometimes straddling the boom of a fuel tanker to catch images of mid-air refueling. No small feat for someone scared of heights! Upon discharge, he worked in several jobs, trying to find his niche: High-end photo lab tech, food testing tech for A & P Laboratories, an investigator for the International Security Bureau, and a security manager for the City Squire Hotel in Manhattan. In 1970, George and his three school-age sons followed his parents and sister to Sharptown, Maryland upon the death of his first wife, Margaret Mullen Tarpley. He took advantage of his GI Bill, and went back to school to work in hospital laboratories, and worked for a time at Peninsula General Hospital, where he met and fell in love with Delores, and then to Deer’s Head State Hospital, where he spent the next 20 years working with kidney dialysis patients; retiring in 1995. George loved living on the Nanticoke River where he spent many happy hours in canoes, sailboats, and kayaks, photographing and sketching wildlife and painting landscapes. He was often spotted walking the dogs, riding his bicycle, or zipping through town on his motor scooter! With Delores, he traveled and camped, rescued dogs and cats, and was active in his church, Our Lady of Lourdes in Seaford, Del. He learned conversational Spanish to teach English as a second language, became a Weather Watcher for WMDT and never missed an opportunity to spend time with his children and grandchildren. A Funeral Service in memory of George will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 11:00 am, at Short Funeral Home, 13 E. Grove Street, Delmar, DE. There will be visitation from 10:00 am to 11:00. The family will observe a private graveside service immediately following. Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of George to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Maryland 21802, and A Pet For Life, Inc. 28215 Log Cabin Rd. Salisbury, MD 21801

George Clayton Tarpley

May 27, 1933 - February 14, 2017