Obituary

Announcement of Passing

On February 8, 2021, Tar-pin Chen passed away suddenly due to cardiac arrest at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Hospital. He was 79.

The Life of Professor Tar-pin Chen

Born in Guangdong, China in 1941, Tar-pin emigrated to Taiwan as a child before later traveling to the United States to pursue a graduate degree. He received his Doctorate in Physics from the University at Buffalo in 1977 after which he immediately accepted a postdoctoral fellowship from Colorado State University. It was during this time in Fort Collins, Colorado that he would meet a graduate student named CJ “Jean” Yen, the girl who would later become his wife.

At a Campus Crusade welcome barbecue during Fall 1977, Tar-pin saw Jean and fell in love with her at first sight. Despite repeated rejection, Tar-pin pursued Jean until she finally agreed to go on a date with him on Valentine’s Day 1978. The couple was baptized at Calvary Baptist Church on July 16, 1978 and were married a week later. For the next 43 years, Tar-pin and Jean would journey through life together making stops in Massachusetts, Iowa, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and finally Arkansas along the way.

In addition to being a born-again Christian, Tar-pin Chen was a scholar and scientist, eventually earning the rank of Professor of Physics. In his pursuit of science, he made significant contributions to the fields of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science. He published more than 100 papers in prestigious journals, supervised four visiting professors, and advised 16 doctoral students. Tar-pin served as the director of two research centers, the head of a federally funded research program, and as the Chairperson of both the Department of Physics at the University of North Dakota and the Department of Astronomy and Physics at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock for a period of twelve years.

Tar-pin always humbly expressed that he was a very ordinary person who had been blessed by God’s grace and wisdom. And because of this grace, Tar-pin was able to use his life, his work, and his faith to inspire those around him. Of those inspired, many are now university deans, professors, researchers, engineers, and doctors. Tar-pin firmly believed in Proverbs 9:10, that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Tar-pin loved the Lord with all his heart and spent his life in His service.

During his time in North Dakota, Tar-pin organized the Grand Forks Chinese Bible Study Group and joined The Gideons International for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. When Tar-pin moved to Little Rock, Arkansas in 2005, he joined the Little Rock Chinese Christian Church (LRCCC) and continued serving the Lord alongside his new church coworkers. His service included preparing meals, conducting visitations, leading Sunday school, Bible Study and catechism classes, participating in mission teams, and giving sermons. Tar-pin always prayed for those in need and comforted them with God’s word. One of his last deeds in this mortal life was to pray for the prosperity of LRCCC, the ongoing success of the church’s ministry, and wisdom and courage for the church’s minister. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5) could be seen through Tar-pin – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Family

Tar-pin Chen is survived by his loving wife Jean, their son Benjamin, and his six siblings of which he was the middle child.

Funeral Information

Visitation will be held on Sunday February 21, 2021 at 1 PM Central Standard Time (CST) at the Roller-Chenal Funeral Home located at 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72211 with a formal funeral service to commence at 2 PM CST. After the funeral, Tar-pin will be transported to his final resting place at the family grave and be buried alongside his mother in Long Island, New York. For those wishing to send flowers, the family prefers potted plants that may continue to grow and flourish in honor of Tar-pin.

Special Thanks and Acknowledgements

Special thanks are given to the LRCCC family for assisting with funeral tasks, Tar-pin’s extended family and former students and colleagues for providing photos and video tributes particularly Weiwei Sun and Cindy Chen, and UAMS and its staff, particularly Drs. Konstantinos Arnaoutakis and Maneetha Kodali and Donna Westerman and Susan Schaffer for providing long-term medical care.