Young Ae Tharp

Young Ae (Choi) Tharp passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in Alexandria, VA.

Young was born in Namwon Kun, Chollopukto, South Korea. She was the daughter of the late Myong Ho Choi and Soon Ok (Park) Choi. She was the oldest of eight siblings and helped take care of them while working on the family farm in Korea. During the Korean War in the early 1950’s, she remembered helping her family hide out to avoid capture by the communists.

In 1961, she married Casper Tharp from Pennsylvania, who was stationed in Korea with the U.S. Army. After the birth of their first child in 1962, Casper was assigned to Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. Young worked several jobs there to help support her family while also learning English and obtained her U.S. citizenship. In 1964, Casper was assigned to Korea again and Young gave birth to their second child. In April 1965, Casper was assigned to Ft. Belvoir. Casper, Young, and their two daughters, Sukcha and Sandee, settled in Alexandria, VA. Young babysat and ironed clothes to help pay for their first house. In 1966, Casper was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and started his career with the U.S. Postal Service.

In 1967, Young started her career as a Fairfax County Public Schools custodian at the Old Mt. Vernon High School. At her initial interview, she had to prove that a small “oriental” woman could lift a mop bucket full of water (about 50lbs) and handle the floor buffer machine. During her career, she was responsible for cleaning and maintaining the entire school – shoveling the snow, cutting the grass, cleaning the boilers, moving furniture, keeping the floors clean, and many other jobs.

In the early 1970’s, Young and Casper helped Young’s parents and her eight siblings immigrate from Korea and settle in the USA. Casper and Young coordinated many family gatherings over the years including one family picnic near a stream where Young caught a huge carp with her bare hands.

Young often worked three jobs to help pay the bills and take care of her family, She volunteered with various activities such as church programs, Girls Scouts, and youth sports. Young loved to travel with her family. They made many trips to Knoebels Amusement Park where she enjoyed camping and cooking a breakfast of bacon, potatoes, and eggs on the charcoal grill.

Young was strong and always determined to “get the job done.” She even lifted an old Ford Maverick sedan off Sandee’s hand when the tire jack slipped while Sandee was changing a flat tire for her. In 1994, Young retired as the Rose Hill Elementary School Building Supervisor. She was well respected and loved by all the faculty, staff, parents, and children. They held “Young Tharp Appreciation Days” in her honor. Her retirement gift was a fully paid cruise trip to the Bahamas in appreciation for the countless hours of hard work she devoted to the school community for over 27 years.

After retirement, Young took on the role as the primary caregiver for her parents. When her two grandchildren, Patrick & Kelly, were born, Young “Grandma” and Casper “Pop-Pop” became their “taxi driver” as well with trips to the bowling alley, parks, pool, and after school activities. She always waited first in the pickup line after school and had snacks ready for her grandchildren and their friends.

Young was a gifted gardener and made the best Korean and American food. Everyone loved her Korean eggrolls. Many of the vegetables came from her large garden which she liked to share (especially her lettuce and cucumbers) with her family, neighbors, and friends. She even started trees with the chestnuts she got from her father from Korea and gave chestnut trees to others as gifts.

Young was so proud of her husband, daughters, and grandchildren in all their accomplishments. When Sukcha graduated from high school, Young and Casper purchased her a brand-new light blue Camaro. Young was pleased to see her two daughters, grandson, and granddaughter graduate from college and establish careers. She was extremely happy to have lived to see her grandson get his master’s degree and her granddaughter get married and have her first great granddaughter, Lucy.

Young always thought of others before herself. Everyone called her “Grandma” because of the deep love she showed in service to others with her kindness, welcoming smile and hugs. She will be missed by all who knew her. Her legacy will live on through great memories with family, friends, and those who were fortunate enough to have known her. May she rest in eternal peace.

She is survived by her daughter Sukcha Tharp, daughter Sandee Y. (Tharp) Riley, son-in-law Terence Riley, grandson Patrick Riley, granddaughter Kelly (Riley) Kenna, grandson-in-law RJ Kenna, great granddaughter Lucy, 5 brothers, 2 sisters, 2 brothers-in-law, 7 sisters-in-law, and many nephews and nieces. Young was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Casper Tharp, son John Tharp, her parents, Myong Ho Choi & Soon Ok Choi, and one brother Sang Yong Choi.

Young requested a graveside funeral service which will be held at a future date at Arlington National Cemetery where she will be interned with her husband and son.