Obituary of Ernie Tarbox, Jr.

Ernest “Ernie” Merrill Tarbox, Jr. – Harrisburg, NC – Ernest “Ernie” M. Tarbox, 62, beloved son, husband and father, passed away on December 5, 2019 after a long and vigorous battle with cancer.

Ernie was born in Columbia, SC, the son of the late Ernest Tarbox, Sr., and Helen Riddle Tarbox. He was a graduate of Airport High School, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. He had the opportunity to excel across numerous industries, including healthcare, finance and information systems. Ernie was an Account Executive for the Federal Sales Team at Micro Focus Government Solutions.

Ernie was a brave and generous man with a big heart filled with love. He was a lover of nature and the outdoors and enjoyed spending time searching for arrowheads and Native American artifacts with his nephews. His bravery and determination in his battle with cancer was witnessed when he was the first person in the US to be admitted to a clinical trial that helped pave the way for future cancer treatment and research involving immunotherapy. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caring medical staff at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC and the Levine and Dickson Hospice House of Huntersville, NC.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 27 years, Kimberly Mays Tarbox; two daughters, Emily Marissa Tarbox and Sarah Kay Tarbox, all of Harrisburg, NC. Ernie is also survived by his mother and sisters, Tamela Tarbox, and Mary Margaret Tarbox Cox, both of Lexington, SC; loving in-laws, nieces and nephews as well as many dear friends.

Funeral services for Ernie will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, December 12, 2019 at Platt Springs United Methodist Church, 3215 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia, SC 29170. Reverend Michael Hood will officiate. The family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service in the church sanctuary. Entombment will follow the service at Woodridge Memorial Park in Lexington. Woodridge Funeral Home of Lexington, SC is assisting the Tarbox family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Levine and Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC, 28078 .