Donald R. Tarr

Donald R. Tarr, age 87, of Seneca, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at UPMC Hamot Hospital in Erie. 

Don was born on May 16, 1938 in Oil City, a son of the late Robert R. and Zoe E. (Rhines) Tarr.

Don was married to Nancy A. Smith on October 19, 1956 in Spokane, Washington. She preceded him in death on August 22, 2010.

He was a 1956 graduate of Oil City High School.  Don retired in 1976 from the U.S. Air Force.  He was a graduate of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy Headquarters Command, Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.

He is survived by two sons, Wayne A. Tarr of Gloucester, Virginia, and Christopher S. Tarr of Beaver Falls; a daughter, Jean L. Tiesma of Grand Rapids,  Michigan; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. 

Also surviving is a sister, Barbara A. Tarr of Oil City, and a brother, Ronald K. Tarr of Pittsburgh. 

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife, Nancy, and three sisters, Jean Louise Tarr, Aileen (May) Solberg, and Bobbie J. Luppino. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday (Jan. 15) from 11 a.m. until noon in the Hile-Best Funeral Home, 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, where a military honors funeral service will follow at noon, accorded by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard.  Interment will follow in the Lamey Cemetery in Oakland Township, Venango County. 

To express online condolences to Don's family, visit www.hilebest.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald R. Tarr, please visit our floral store.