[1] Bishop Tharp Business and Technology Institute in Les Cayes, Haiti, is named for him.
Later he studied at the Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1956.
Upon his return to the United States in 1969, he become rector of St Peter’s Church in Columbia, Tennessee.
On November 17, 1990, Tharp was elected Coadjutor Bishop of East Tennessee during a special meeting of the sixth annual convention of the diocese.
After retirement he served as chairman of the board of directors for Episcopal Relief and Development and Assistant Bishop of Atlanta.