Mr. Thaddeus Earl Tankard Jr., age 90, a resident of 437 Craven St., Bath, passed away Sunday, May 12, 2019, at his home in Bath.

A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church Cemetery in Bath. The family will receive friends Tuesday night, May 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Paul Funeral Home in Washington and other times at their home in Bath.

The following will serve as pallbearers: Adam Tankard, Will Tankard, Zach Tankard, Skylar Tankard, Tony Mirabella and Garrison Tremont.

Mr. Tankard was born in Beaufort County on June 12, 1928. He was the son of the late Thaddeus Earl Tankard Sr. and Louise Williams Tankard. He is survived by his wife, Rowena, and their children and spouses: Tad and Treva Tankard, Keith and Yvonne Tankard, Wayne (deceased) and Sandra Tankard and Rowena and Bill Bitar, all of Bath.

He was blessed with nine grandchildren; Tara Louise Tankard Garrett (deceased), Adam Tankard, Ginger Louise Tankard Mirabella, Zach Tankard and Skylar Tankard, all of Bath, as well as Roxanne Louise Tankard Raynor, of Asheville, Gretchen Louise Bitar Tremont, of Durham, Victoria Rowena Bitar, of Greenville, and Will Tankard of Holly Springs. He was abundantly blessed with 11 great-grandchildren, also.

“Mr. Thad” was a 1945 graduate of Bath High School. After graduation, he attended Barber school and served in the U.S. Air Force. He married his sweetheart, Rowena Woolard, in 1950 and settled in Bath, barbering at night, while working the farm during the day.

Mr. Tankard was a long-time farmer in Beaufort County and continued to farm well into his seventies. His loves were his family, playing golf and getting the opportunity to travel all over the world. He was a member of the Bath United Methodist Church. During his lifetime, he served on various church committees and boards as well as the Beaufort County School Board, the Beaufort County Hospital Board and the Gideons International. He was a member of the Gideons International and a former member of the Bath Lions Club and the Bath Fire Department. He also traveled to several countries with the N.C. Soybean Association.

All who knew Mr. Thad were acquainted with his love for a good joke and sense of humor. He loved Bath and often told of the wonderful memories growing up playing, hunting and fishing with childhood friends. He taught his children the importance of hard work and family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideons International Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Tankard family.