Geraldine Mary Tarr

Geraldine (Gerry) Mary Tarr passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 7, 2024.  She was 93 years old at the time of her passing.

Gerry Tarr, nee Harkal was born on July 15, 1930 and grew up in the small eastern Pennsylvania coal mining town of Glen Lyon.  While her Depression era childhood was by necessity simple, she forever recounted the joys of that period of her life.  Also, she remained loyally proud of her “little town” of Glen Lyon throughout her life.

Following college, Gerry moved to Washington D.C. to work at the Pentagon.  It was in Washington D.C. where she met her future husband, Robert (Rob) Tarr who was working at the CIA at the time.  They married on January 11, 1958 and the next day moved to London, England where Rob was transferred for his job.

Following ten months in London, the couple settled in Vienna, Virginia where Gerry gave birth to a son, Robert (Robby) Tarr and a daughter Dina Gresh, nee Tarr.  Gerry loved her role as mother and homemaker.  She and her husband rarely went out by themselves, preferring much more to spend time together as a family.  The family eventually moved to Laurel, Maryland and as her children grew older Gerry enjoyed volunteering her time with school and sports activities.  She was very active in the Atholton High School Booster Club while her children attended school there. She was also very active in many activities at St. Louis Church.

After the untimely death of her husband at the young age of 51, Gerry found herself in need of once again entering the workforce after a long absence.  She applied for and received a position at the National Security Agency.  Though the work was daunting at first, through her typical persistence and strong effort she succeeded and even excelled at various positions within the agency, receiving numerous promotions and commendations during her tenure there.

Following her retirement from NSA, Gerry enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was as active in their lives as she had been in the lives of her children.  Gerry also cherished “fellowship” time with her many friends. She was known by family and friends by Geraldine, Gerry, Mom, Grandma, Bgrandma, Gammy, Babcie, and Baba.

Gerry was a force of nature.  She valued God, family, and friends.  Likewise, her family loved and cherished her.  She was caring and open.  She never met a stranger with whom she couldn’t strike up a conversation.  She will be deeply missed by all those who have been blessed to have known her.

Gerry was preceded in death by, and was the beloved wife of, the late Robert C. Tarr; devoted mother of Robert W. Tarr (wife, Cheryl) and Dina M. Gresh (husband, Frank);  loving grandmother of Andrew Tarr (wife, Amanda), Kaitlin Gresh (husband, Greg Deickman), and Casey LiPira (husband, Alex);  cherished great grandmother of Jesse Gresh, Lucy Deickman, Jackson LiPira, Emma LiPira, Layne LiPira, Eliana LiPira, Haley Deickman, and Madison Deickman; dear sister of Marie Dolinski; also survived by many loving family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Lung Association, Melanoma Research Foundation, and/or UNICEF USA.