Joshua D. Tharp

It is with great sadness that the family of Joshua D. Tharp, age 32, of Louisville, KY announces his passing after a long battle with cancer. He passed peacefully on Saturday, May 12, 2018. He was a son to Charon and Doug Morales, a twin to Jessica Mills, and big brother to John Morgan Morales. Josh was a man with outstanding intellect and a passion for knowledge and debate. He loved to challenge his own intelligence and opinions, always seeking to gain knowledge of anything and everything. He was always up for debate with anyone who was willing, and loved to challenge others to form strong opinions of topics they were passionate about. He is without a doubt enjoying a great conversation (and maybe a little debate) with God himself. Josh had a big heart, so intuitive with the people around him, always seeming to know what they were thinking, or needed. He also had a sense of humor that came to life through his writing, the stories he told, and the jokes he pulled. He had a love of reading, the outdoors, fishing, shooting, and was quite the gun enthusiast. He not only collected guns, but beautifully crafted them as well. He loved his adopted dog, Cassie. Josh adopted Cassie from the KY Humane Society two and a half years ago. They were a saving grace for each other. He always said puppy love was the best medicine for the body and soul, and he couldn’t have lived without her. Josh was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, but was determined to fight and not let his diagnosis define him. In 2015, he wrote the following: “I’m learning that we...each of us, have struggles. Some are seemingly trivial, while others have the potential to forever alter your life and those around you. The challenge is this. Can you take the struggle? Can you endure the pain? Can you navigate the emotional highs and lows? Can you in the midst of a seemingly hopeless circumstance stand tall and transform your suffering into something beautiful? Can you through your trials gift hope to another? Can you be more than a victim of your circumstance? If you can...you are a hero to someone...somewhere. You may not know it, or even feel it. But others will see you, and through you...perhaps find hope of their own. Whoever you are. Wherever you are. You owe it to yourself and that watchful stranger to rise up and fight. Do not slowly dim and fade away. Shine bright to the very end.” Josh, you, without a doubt, shown bright until the very end. We pray you know that to many, you reflected hope and faith, you were a hero. Your fight was beautiful and strong. Words cannot do your story justice or express how much you will be missed by all that had the privilege to know you. You have a very special place in so many hearts. A celebration of life will be planned at a later date. Memorial donations in memory of Josh may be sent to The American Cancer Society or the Kentucky Humane Society.