The Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge announces the death of Jacob Desmond ‘Deb’ Arp, age 86, of McCaysville, Ga., who died Saturday, June 25, 2011, at Fannin Regional Hospital in Blue Ridge, Ga.He was a native and lifelong resident of the Copper Basin, son of the late Frank and Mamie Sparks Arp. Mr. Arp was retired from the Cities Service Company, having worked as a machinist and as a safety engineer. He was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church in McCaysville-Copperhill having served the church in several capacities. He was a veteran of World War 2, serving in the U.S. Army thru the D-Day invasion, Battle of the Bulge, Bastogne, and on thru the end of the war. He was in the 97th Signal Battalion, serving with the 82nd Airborne and Patton’s 3rd Army. He was currently serving as a councilman in the city of McCaysville.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen (Hughes) Arp of the home; two daughters and sons-in-laws, Melba and Doug Akins of Epworth, and Marsha and Doug Davenport of McCaysville, one son, Richard Arp of Ringgold, Ga., two sisters, Coleen and Gene Wright of Copperhill, Tenn. and Katherine Armstrong of Quitman, Texas, one brother, Robert and Peggy Arp of McCaysville, nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be at First Baptist Church of McCaysville/Copperhill at 2:00 PM Tuesday, June 28, 2011, with Rev. Harry Gilbert and Rev. Matthew McDaniel officiating. Interment will be at Crestlawn Cemetery. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Chet Akins, Nathan Davenport, Jacob Arp, Jim Carson, Clive Oliver, and Troy Simonds. Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy Finch, Tommy Quintrell, Bill Rymer, Eddie Massengale, Brownie Pittman, Butch Pittman, Employees of McCaysville City Hall, Deacons of First Baptist Church, and members of the Hoover Sunday School Class.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com