John William Tarleton

John William Tarleton, 86, passed away on Monday, February 19, 2024. He was born

August 9, 1937, in Union County, the son of Titus Tarleton and Mae Helms Tarleton. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jim and Lane Tarleton.

After heroically surviving his premature birth in rural Union County, John and his rough and tumble brothers drove their mother crazy playing in the woods and doing silly young boy things. He enjoyed school and sports in Unionville and New Salem and enlisted in the Air Force shortly before turning 18. He spent 4 years in the Air Force stationed in places like Iceland, Morocco and England. Apparently, he could have stayed in Iceland and married an Icelandic Military Policeman’s beautiful sister, but thankfully, he chose to come back to the USA. He said the coldest he’s ever been in his life was in Savannah when he guarded a bomber armed with nukes all night in the freezing rain. Despite that deep freeze experience, he truly loved his time in the service.

After returning home from the service, John met and married Grace Deese, who loved and supported him as he earned his Engineering degree from NC State.

John founded and operated a commercial roofing company, Tarco, Inc., for many years before starting a development and construction business as his father had done. During that part of his life, he enjoyed golf and playing gin in the Rolling Hills Country Club card room with his buddies Jake, Geer, Goat, Ed, Whitey, Pope, Shaheen, and others. He reached his political peak when he served as the Rolling Hills president, ruling with a firm yet compassionate hand. After retiring, he enjoyed lively discussions with friends and family at Burak’s Coffee Shop and then Hazel’s Coffee Shop, where we often heard tales of him explaining to his friends exactly how wrong they were! We joked that his favorite political party was the Contrarian Party.

Dad spent as much time as he could loving his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren; he was the Webster’s Dictionary living definition of “doting”. He spent many years working with students at Walter Bickett Elementary, playing an important role in the lives of twins Shawn and Twan Dubose. He loved them and stayed proud of them for the rest of his life.

In his final years, he wrote a few memories down, expressing his love for his family and

hoping his wife and children would know how much he cared for them. He told his children, “I have good memories of both of you. Some inconsequential, but memories that stick out are: watching Jon make a hole-in-one the day before he turned 12; Going with Cori to the horse show in Raleigh; Cori refusing stationery because it said “Tarheel”; Playing the Ryder Cup golf course (The Ocean Course) with Jon on a severely windy day.”

A private funeral service and a gathering for friends will be held at a later date.

Mr. Tarleton is survived by his wife, Grace Deese Tarleton; son, Jon Tarleton (Kristin

Dodd-Tarleton); daughter Cori Braxton (Damon); grandchildren, Eliza Dodd-Tarleton,

Isabella Braxton and John Braxton; and brothers, Harold Tarleton and Reg Tarleton.

Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com

Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory is honored to be entrusted to care for the Tarleton family.