Harold Joseph Franklin Tapp, affectionately known to his friends and family as Jody, age 82, passed away on April 29, 2024, at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Arkansas, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
One of five children, Jody was born on March 3, 1942, to Columbus and Lula Tapp. He grew up in Grubbs, working on the farm and racing his Dodge Dart on the weekends. He attended and graduated from Grubbs High School in 1960 and received his business degree from Arkansas State University. He served in the Army National Guard.
During high school, he met Beverly Warbington (of Newport, AR), whom he married. They made their home in Newport, Arkansas, where Jody devoted the majority of his career to Norandal, working for 40+ years as a successful and valued salesman and customer service director. His days off and weekends were spent on the golf course, where he made many memories with friends and family over the years, especially with his two sons Doug and Jeff. His favorite time of year was the Newport Country Club Invitational golf tournament, when he played with his long-time friend Butch Duncan every summer for many years. He served on the board and as president of the Newport Country Club and cherished the time and memories made both in the clubhouse and on the course.
He was a faithful Christian and a devoted member of First Baptist Church Newport including the Harold Erwin Sunday School class, where he attended. Even with so many beautiful memories and friendships, the greatest love of his life was his family. He adored his four grandchildren and they adored their Papaw and Papa Joe; he doted on them constantly and never passed up an opportunity to spend even a moment with any of them. He was much-loved by his two daughters-in-law, whom he treated more like daughters. His legacy of integrity, kindness, and love will not be forgotten and will live on in the lives of his children and grandchildren, and all who were lucky enough to know him.
Jody is preceded in death by his wife Beverly Warbington Tapp, the mother of his children; his brothers Billy Joe Tapp and Carl Tapp; and his parents Columbus and Lula Tapp.
He is survived by his wife Susan Metcalf Tapp, his two sons, Douglas Lynn Tapp (Catherine) of Bentonville and Jeffery Joe Tapp (April) of Jacksonville, Florida; his four grandchildren Slayton Tapp, Presley Tapp, Gabriel Tapp, and Shepherd Tapp; two sisters Barbara Bradley and Peggy Hoffmeister, both of Newport; one brother Donald Tapp of Powhatan; step-children Heather Halbert of McCrory and Grey Metcalf of Newport; and step-grandchildren Spencer Carden, Jo Carden, and Laken Halbert, and a multitude of friends and family.
The family would like to extend their eternal gratitude to Southern Caregivers and the incredible staff at the Phil and Flo Jones Hospice House for their exceptional and personal care to the very end.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 3, 2024, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church in Newport, Arkansas, with visitation scheduled for 10:00 am until service time at FBC.
