SOUTHPORT — Joanne Patricia “Patty” Diehl Tarler, 90, died Saturday, May 9, 2020, at home following a brief illness surrounded by those who loved her.
She was born July 18, 1929, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the daughter of Joseph Urich Diehl and Helen Miller Diehl.
She was preceded in death, not only by her parents, but by her loving husband of 61 years, Craig Cornell Tarler.
She is survived by her children, Sally Tarler Learned, Pamela Tarler Hayes and Christopher Craig Tarler, all of Southport; granddaughters, Caroline Poteat Gandy of Boone and Jennifer Leigh Poteat (Jordan Ellis) of San Antonio, Texas; and a large extended circle of family and friends.
Patty graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951 with a degree in sociology. She followed Craig to an Army posting in northern Japan for two years. Upon their return, they settled in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, for many years, where Patty served the community through nonprofit volunteer efforts and lay leadership at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.
When the grandchildren came along, they relocated to Morganton, North Carolina, to be closer. Patty was never so happy, working side by side with Craig, to create Cornell & Diehl Inc., which became one of the premier manufacturers and distributors of hand-blended pipe tobacco in the world.
She made friends from all over the world through the business and was universally loved. She relocated to Southport in 2015 and quickly became a beloved member of the community of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.
There was never a time when Patty wasn’t involved in the world around her. If you knew her for five minutes, she knew your life story. Her beautiful smile and infectious laugh could light up a room. Her great love was politics, and when asked why she never pursued a political career herself, she said, “my skin isn’t thick enough!” Patty stayed engaged with her family and the world up until the end. A friend said it best, “One thing I’m sure of, is that her advice to God will be as good as it was for me.”
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to Patty’s friend and caregiver, Carol Florkiewitz, for her loving and tender care; Dr. Minor and his wonderful staff; the doctors and nurses of Dosher Hospital; and the nurses and aides of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.
A memorial service will be held at St. Philip’s when restrictions are lifted, and her ashes will be interred with Craig’s in the church’s memorial garden.
In lieu of flowers, the Tarler family requests that friends and family complete an act of kindness or donate to a favorite charity in honor and memory of Patty’s loving and generous spirit.
Share online condolences with the family at Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service.
