J.M. "Bip" Carstarphen, 81 years old, died Tuesday.

J.M. "Bip" Carstarphen, CEO of Pharr Yarns in McAdenville, North Carolina, died Tuesday at age 81. Carstarphen started working at Pharr Yarns in 1956, and became CEO in 1981. He was also chairman of Pharr International.

A 2002 Observer story described him as “soft spoken and genial, more Southern gentleman than president of a company with $325 million in sales last year.” 

He is survived by his wife, Catherine, three children, six grandchildren, and one brother. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Belmont, P.O. Box 1, Belmont, North Carolina, 28012, or to Calvary Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1245, Tarboro, North Carolina, 27886.