Christopher “Chris” Columbus Tatham Jr., 75, of Kingwood, died on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at his home.
Chris was born Nov. 13, 1944, in Washington, D.C., a son of the late Christopher Columbus and Esther (Ford) Tatham Sr.
He attended the WVU School of Forestry and graduated in 1970. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps serving his country in Vietnam from April 1, 1966, until March 11, 1968 with the 3rd Marine Division and also aboard the USS Iwo Jima. Chris started Tatham’s Garden Center in 1980, while working as a forester for Interstate Lumber. He was owner of Tatham’s Garden Center for 32 years, retiring in 2010. He was an active member of the Kingwood Baptist Church in Kingwood for 42 years, where he served in many capacities, including Deacon. Chris was a member of WV Landscape and Nursery Association and the Preston County Growers Association. He was an Honorary Member of the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department and enjoyed frying sausage for the Buckwheat Festival. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his wife in their High Tunnel Greenhouse on their farm at Herring.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joyce Lynne (Bishop) Tatham; two sons, Scott Christopher Tatham, of Prichard, W.Va., Lucas Frederick Tatham and spouse, Trellis Smith, of Reedsville; one brother, William D. Tatham, of Broadway, Va.; two grandchildren, Trey Michael Smith-Tatham and Jacob Alexander Smith-Tatham.
Friends will be received at the Rotruck-Lobb Kingwood Chapel; 295 South Price Street at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17, until the time of the funeral service at 6 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Marlena Maynard officiating. The family requests that masks be worn, and guests practice physical distancing. Interment will be held privately for the family at the WV National Cemetery, Pruntytown.
The family requests that any memorial donations be made in Chris’s memory to WV Caring, P.O. Box 760, Arthurdale, WV 26520.
Condolences:
www.rotruck-lobb.com
