Tommie Hight Tharrington

Tommie Hight Tharrington, 88, passed away peacefully at home on August 3, 2025.

Tommie was born a few minutes after his twin brother, Ronnie, on July 1, 1937, to Mary Lou Gupton Tharrington and Owen Fletcher Tharrington. He and his siblings were raised on a tobacco farm in Franklin County.

Tommie is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Dewitt.

Tommie is survived by Frances Caudle Tharrington, his loving wife of 63 years; his siblings Ronnie Tharrington, Michael Tharrington, and Priscilla Matthews; his daughters Paige Tharrington (Martin Streicher), Jennifer Little (Scott); and his grandchildren, Harper Little, Thompson Little, William Little, Ethan Streicher (Harlie) and Madeline Streicher. Tommie loved his family more than anything (especially those grandchildren!)

Tommie and his brother Ronnie went to North Carolina State University as Agriculture majors and graduated in 1959. They were proud to be a part of Farmhouse Fraternity there and were life-long Wolfpack fans.

Following a year in the Army, Tommie began his career as a salesman selling fertilizer for Armour Agriculture, the chemical division of US Steel. In 1986 US Steel divested the Armour division to LaRoche Industries. Over the years Tommie led the sales force for LaRoche Industries and played a pivotal role in the companies growth. He and his family lived in Dunn NC, Greensboro, Albany GA, Wilmington and Atlanta over the years. In 2000 LaRoche sold to LBS Industries and rather than retiring Tommie decided to continue with LBS. He and Frances decided to move back to NC where they built their dream home on a golf course in Chapel Hill. He worked remotely for another 11 years. He loved his work and reluctantly retired at 78 after over 50 years with the same business.

Tommie was an avid golfer and thoroughly enjoyed playing most days after he retired.

The family would like to give special thanks to all the wonderful caretakers at Guardian Angels for taking such good care of him at the end of his life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org.