Henry J. Sharp Jr. was the son of Henry J. Sharp Sr. and Vera Belle Schaeffer.
He married Mary Lou Taylor in 1943.
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Obituary, Jan. 20. 2003, "The Chronicle-Telegram", (Elyria, Lorain Co., OH)
HENRY J. "HANK" SHARP
Henry J. "Hank" Sharp, 78, of Amherst, a decorated military veteran, columnist and Boy Scout executive, died Saturday at St. Joseph Hospice Center of New Life Hospice following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Born in Amherst, he was a lifelong resident and a 1941 graduate of Amherst High School.
He entered the Merchant Marines in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942, serving as an airborne radio operator in Troop Carrier Command during World War II. He accumulated 786 combat flying hours and participated in the D-Day, Holland and Rhineland invasions and was awarded numerous medals and honors.
Upon his retirement from military service in 1964, he began a career with Boy Scouts of America as a district executive. He served in the Okanogen Valley District and Lake Chelan District in Sharp Washington from 1964 to 1968 and in Alaska, where he lived until moving back to Amherst in 1971.
Mr. Sharp wrote a column for Amherst News Times, titled "Those Were the Days," for many years. The column later appeared in Senior Years, a monthly newspaper for Lorain County seniors.
He served on the board of trustees for Senior Citizens Association of Lorain County and on
Family Council of Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky. He was a member of a selection committee for Amherst Public Library. He was also a member of Amherst Citizens for Community Values, Amherst American Legion Post 118, Vermilion AMVETS Post 22 and Amherst VFW Post 1662, where he was former adjutant.
He appeared in several productions of Amherst Workshop Players. In 1991, he was a Republican candidate for Amherst Council. He also was a member of Retired Enlisted Association, Sergeants Association, Air Force Association and National Rifle Association.
Mr. Sharp attended Church of the Open Door in Elyria, where he was a member of Ambassadors Adult Bible Fellowship. He was a former member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst, where he sang in the choir and was an usher, greeter and deacon. He also was active in many church groups. He was a member of Gideons International Lorain Camp, where he had held offices of scripture chairman, secretary and vice president.
He received a certificate of graduate of Bible Studies from Institute of Biblical Studies at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
He enjoyed singing and playing the organ, harmonica, guitar, ukulele and drums.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Lou (nee Taylor); sons Michael S. of College Park, Ga., and David A. 0: Spokane, Wash. ; a daughter, Cecilia Lara of Velleyford, Mass. ; a stepson, Thomas M. Gergel of Amherst; stepdaughters Judith Danahoo of Wellington and Laurie Beattie of Amherst; and 15 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Vera (nee Schaeffer); brothers Alfred, John and Reuben; and sisters Evelyn S. Raesler, Caroline S. Burg, Mayme S. Brainerd and Ruth B. Sharp.
Friends may call 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst.
Funeral services will be II a.m. Saturday at Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst. The Rev. William Mouer will officiate.
Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery , Amherst, with military honors by Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 324, Elyria 44036, or New Life Hospice, 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria 44035.
Obituary, Jan. 20. 2003, "The Morning Journal", (Lorain, Lorain Co., OH)
Henry J. Sharp, 78, newspaper columnist
January 20, 2003
AMHERST -- Henry J. "Hank" Sharp, 78, of Amherst, died Saturday, Jan. 18,2003, at New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph, Lorain, following a lengthy illness with cancer.
He was born Jan. 24, 1924, in Amherst.
Sharp wrote a newspaper column, "Those Were The Days," in the Amherst News Times for many years and continued it in "Senior Years," published for Lorain County seniors.
He graduated from Amherst High School in 1941 and entered the Merchant Marine in 1942 and sailed the Great Lakes for two seasons. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and accumulated 786 combat flying hours in World War II, participating in D-Day and campaigns in Holland and the Rhineland.
He received the EAME medal with seven battle stars, Air Defense Medal with two oak clusters, the Medal for Human Action, Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp, Berlin Air Lift Device, European Occupation Medal and two Presidential Unit Citations. In 1964, Sharp retired from the Air Force and began a career as a Boy Scout executive. He served in the Scouts' Okanogen Valley District and Lake Chelan District in Washington state from 1964 to 1968, when he was transferred to Alaska and served until returning to Amherst in 1971. He was head custodian at Central School, Amherst, from 1972 to 1974.
Sharp served on the board of the Senior Citizens Association of Lorain County and on the Ohio Veterans Home's family council. He was a charter member of Amherst Citizens for Community Values and a member of Amherst Public Library, Amherst American Legion Post 118, Vermilion AMVETS Post 22 and Amherst Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1662, where he had served as adjutant. He was a member of the Retired Enlisted Association, Sergeants Association, Air Force Association, National Rifle Association and Gideons International Lorain Camp, where he held offices as vice president, secretary and Scripture chairman.
He attended the Church of the Open Door, Elyria, and its Ambassadors Adult Bible Fellowship, and was a past member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church, Amherst. He had run for councilman-at-large, was a member of the Lorain County Republican Party and received a Bible studies certificate from Liberty University Institute of Biblical Studies in Virginia. He was a student of the Bible and enjoyed singing and playing the organ, harmonica, guitar, ukulele and drums.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Lou Sharp (nee Taylor); sons Michael S. of College Park, Ga., and David A. of Spokane, Wash.; daughter, Cecilia Lara ofVelleyford, Wash.; stepson, Thomas M. Gergel of Amherst; stepdaughters Judith Danahoo of Wellington and Laurie Beat tie of Amherst; and 15 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Alfred, John and Reuben; sisters Evelyn S. Raesler, Caroline S. Burg, Mayme S. Brainerd and Ruth B. Sharp; and his parents, Henry and Vera (nee Schaeffer) Sharp.
Friends may call Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in Family Fellowship Foursquare Church, 780 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, with the Rev. William Mouer, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery, Amherst. Military honors will be by the Amherst Veterans Military Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 324, Elyria, OH 44035; or New Life Hospice, 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria, OH 44035-1450.
He married Mary Lou Taylor in 1943.
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Obituary, Jan. 20. 2003, "The Chronicle-Telegram", (Elyria, Lorain Co., OH)
HENRY J. "HANK" SHARP
Henry J. "Hank" Sharp, 78, of Amherst, a decorated military veteran, columnist and Boy Scout executive, died Saturday at St. Joseph Hospice Center of New Life Hospice following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Born in Amherst, he was a lifelong resident and a 1941 graduate of Amherst High School.
He entered the Merchant Marines in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942, serving as an airborne radio operator in Troop Carrier Command during World War II. He accumulated 786 combat flying hours and participated in the D-Day, Holland and Rhineland invasions and was awarded numerous medals and honors.
Upon his retirement from military service in 1964, he began a career with Boy Scouts of America as a district executive. He served in the Okanogen Valley District and Lake Chelan District in Sharp Washington from 1964 to 1968 and in Alaska, where he lived until moving back to Amherst in 1971.
Mr. Sharp wrote a column for Amherst News Times, titled "Those Were the Days," for many years. The column later appeared in Senior Years, a monthly newspaper for Lorain County seniors.
He served on the board of trustees for Senior Citizens Association of Lorain County and on
Family Council of Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky. He was a member of a selection committee for Amherst Public Library. He was also a member of Amherst Citizens for Community Values, Amherst American Legion Post 118, Vermilion AMVETS Post 22 and Amherst VFW Post 1662, where he was former adjutant.
He appeared in several productions of Amherst Workshop Players. In 1991, he was a Republican candidate for Amherst Council. He also was a member of Retired Enlisted Association, Sergeants Association, Air Force Association and National Rifle Association.
Mr. Sharp attended Church of the Open Door in Elyria, where he was a member of Ambassadors Adult Bible Fellowship. He was a former member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst, where he sang in the choir and was an usher, greeter and deacon. He also was active in many church groups. He was a member of Gideons International Lorain Camp, where he had held offices of scripture chairman, secretary and vice president.
He received a certificate of graduate of Bible Studies from Institute of Biblical Studies at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
He enjoyed singing and playing the organ, harmonica, guitar, ukulele and drums.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Lou (nee Taylor); sons Michael S. of College Park, Ga., and David A. 0: Spokane, Wash. ; a daughter, Cecilia Lara of Velleyford, Mass. ; a stepson, Thomas M. Gergel of Amherst; stepdaughters Judith Danahoo of Wellington and Laurie Beattie of Amherst; and 15 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Vera (nee Schaeffer); brothers Alfred, John and Reuben; and sisters Evelyn S. Raesler, Caroline S. Burg, Mayme S. Brainerd and Ruth B. Sharp.
Friends may call 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst.
Funeral services will be II a.m. Saturday at Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst. The Rev. William Mouer will officiate.
Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery , Amherst, with military honors by Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 324, Elyria 44036, or New Life Hospice, 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria 44035.
Obituary, Jan. 20. 2003, "The Morning Journal", (Lorain, Lorain Co., OH)
Henry J. Sharp, 78, newspaper columnist
January 20, 2003
AMHERST -- Henry J. "Hank" Sharp, 78, of Amherst, died Saturday, Jan. 18,2003, at New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph, Lorain, following a lengthy illness with cancer.
He was born Jan. 24, 1924, in Amherst.
Sharp wrote a newspaper column, "Those Were The Days," in the Amherst News Times for many years and continued it in "Senior Years," published for Lorain County seniors.
He graduated from Amherst High School in 1941 and entered the Merchant Marine in 1942 and sailed the Great Lakes for two seasons. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and accumulated 786 combat flying hours in World War II, participating in D-Day and campaigns in Holland and the Rhineland.
He received the EAME medal with seven battle stars, Air Defense Medal with two oak clusters, the Medal for Human Action, Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp, Berlin Air Lift Device, European Occupation Medal and two Presidential Unit Citations. In 1964, Sharp retired from the Air Force and began a career as a Boy Scout executive. He served in the Scouts' Okanogen Valley District and Lake Chelan District in Washington state from 1964 to 1968, when he was transferred to Alaska and served until returning to Amherst in 1971. He was head custodian at Central School, Amherst, from 1972 to 1974.
Sharp served on the board of the Senior Citizens Association of Lorain County and on the Ohio Veterans Home's family council. He was a charter member of Amherst Citizens for Community Values and a member of Amherst Public Library, Amherst American Legion Post 118, Vermilion AMVETS Post 22 and Amherst Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1662, where he had served as adjutant. He was a member of the Retired Enlisted Association, Sergeants Association, Air Force Association, National Rifle Association and Gideons International Lorain Camp, where he held offices as vice president, secretary and Scripture chairman.
He attended the Church of the Open Door, Elyria, and its Ambassadors Adult Bible Fellowship, and was a past member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church, Amherst. He had run for councilman-at-large, was a member of the Lorain County Republican Party and received a Bible studies certificate from Liberty University Institute of Biblical Studies in Virginia. He was a student of the Bible and enjoyed singing and playing the organ, harmonica, guitar, ukulele and drums.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Lou Sharp (nee Taylor); sons Michael S. of College Park, Ga., and David A. of Spokane, Wash.; daughter, Cecilia Lara ofVelleyford, Wash.; stepson, Thomas M. Gergel of Amherst; stepdaughters Judith Danahoo of Wellington and Laurie Beat tie of Amherst; and 15 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Alfred, John and Reuben; sisters Evelyn S. Raesler, Caroline S. Burg, Mayme S. Brainerd and Ruth B. Sharp; and his parents, Henry and Vera (nee Schaeffer) Sharp.
Friends may call Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in Family Fellowship Foursquare Church, 780 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, with the Rev. William Mouer, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery, Amherst. Military honors will be by the Amherst Veterans Military Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 324, Elyria, OH 44035; or New Life Hospice, 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria, OH 44035-1450.
Henry J. Sharp Jr. was the son of Henry J. Sharp Sr. and Vera Belle Schaeffer.
He married Mary Lou Taylor in 1943.
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Obituary, Jan. 20. 2003, "The Chronicle-Telegram", (Elyria, Lorain Co., OH)
HENRY J. "HANK" SHARP
Henry J. "Hank" Sharp, 78, of Amherst, a decorated military veteran, columnist and Boy Scout executive, died Saturday at St. Joseph Hospice Center of New Life Hospice following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Born in Amherst, he was a lifelong resident and a 1941 graduate of Amherst High School.
He entered the Merchant Marines in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942, serving as an airborne radio operator in Troop Carrier Command during World War II. He accumulated 786 combat flying hours and participated in the D-Day, Holland and Rhineland invasions and was awarded numerous medals and honors.
Upon his retirement from military service in 1964, he began a career with Boy Scouts of America as a district executive. He served in the Okanogen Valley District and Lake Chelan District in Sharp Washington from 1964 to 1968 and in Alaska, where he lived until moving back to Amherst in 1971.
Mr. Sharp wrote a column for Amherst News Times, titled "Those Were the Days," for many years. The column later appeared in Senior Years, a monthly newspaper for Lorain County seniors.
He served on the board of trustees for Senior Citizens Association of Lorain County and on
Family Council of Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky. He was a member of a selection committee for Amherst Public Library. He was also a member of Amherst Citizens for Community Values, Amherst American Legion Post 118, Vermilion AMVETS Post 22 and Amherst VFW Post 1662, where he was former adjutant.
He appeared in several productions of Amherst Workshop Players. In 1991, he was a Republican candidate for Amherst Council. He also was a member of Retired Enlisted Association, Sergeants Association, Air Force Association and National Rifle Association.
Mr. Sharp attended Church of the Open Door in Elyria, where he was a member of Ambassadors Adult Bible Fellowship. He was a former member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst, where he sang in the choir and was an usher, greeter and deacon. He also was active in many church groups. He was a member of Gideons International Lorain Camp, where he had held offices of scripture chairman, secretary and vice president.
He received a certificate of graduate of Bible Studies from Institute of Biblical Studies at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
He enjoyed singing and playing the organ, harmonica, guitar, ukulele and drums.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Lou (nee Taylor); sons Michael S. of College Park, Ga., and David A. 0: Spokane, Wash. ; a daughter, Cecilia Lara of Velleyford, Mass. ; a stepson, Thomas M. Gergel of Amherst; stepdaughters Judith Danahoo of Wellington and Laurie Beattie of Amherst; and 15 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Vera (nee Schaeffer); brothers Alfred, John and Reuben; and sisters Evelyn S. Raesler, Caroline S. Burg, Mayme S. Brainerd and Ruth B. Sharp.
Friends may call 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst.
Funeral services will be II a.m. Saturday at Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst. The Rev. William Mouer will officiate.
Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery , Amherst, with military honors by Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 324, Elyria 44036, or New Life Hospice, 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria 44035.
Obituary, Jan. 20. 2003, "The Morning Journal", (Lorain, Lorain Co., OH)
Henry J. Sharp, 78, newspaper columnist
January 20, 2003
AMHERST -- Henry J. "Hank" Sharp, 78, of Amherst, died Saturday, Jan. 18,2003, at New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph, Lorain, following a lengthy illness with cancer.
He was born Jan. 24, 1924, in Amherst.
Sharp wrote a newspaper column, "Those Were The Days," in the Amherst News Times for many years and continued it in "Senior Years," published for Lorain County seniors.
He graduated from Amherst High School in 1941 and entered the Merchant Marine in 1942 and sailed the Great Lakes for two seasons. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and accumulated 786 combat flying hours in World War II, participating in D-Day and campaigns in Holland and the Rhineland.
He received the EAME medal with seven battle stars, Air Defense Medal with two oak clusters, the Medal for Human Action, Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp, Berlin Air Lift Device, European Occupation Medal and two Presidential Unit Citations. In 1964, Sharp retired from the Air Force and began a career as a Boy Scout executive. He served in the Scouts' Okanogen Valley District and Lake Chelan District in Washington state from 1964 to 1968, when he was transferred to Alaska and served until returning to Amherst in 1971. He was head custodian at Central School, Amherst, from 1972 to 1974.
Sharp served on the board of the Senior Citizens Association of Lorain County and on the Ohio Veterans Home's family council. He was a charter member of Amherst Citizens for Community Values and a member of Amherst Public Library, Amherst American Legion Post 118, Vermilion AMVETS Post 22 and Amherst Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1662, where he had served as adjutant. He was a member of the Retired Enlisted Association, Sergeants Association, Air Force Association, National Rifle Association and Gideons International Lorain Camp, where he held offices as vice president, secretary and Scripture chairman.
He attended the Church of the Open Door, Elyria, and its Ambassadors Adult Bible Fellowship, and was a past member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church, Amherst. He had run for councilman-at-large, was a member of the Lorain County Republican Party and received a Bible studies certificate from Liberty University Institute of Biblical Studies in Virginia. He was a student of the Bible and enjoyed singing and playing the organ, harmonica, guitar, ukulele and drums.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Lou Sharp (nee Taylor); sons Michael S. of College Park, Ga., and David A. of Spokane, Wash.; daughter, Cecilia Lara ofVelleyford, Wash.; stepson, Thomas M. Gergel of Amherst; stepdaughters Judith Danahoo of Wellington and Laurie Beat tie of Amherst; and 15 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Alfred, John and Reuben; sisters Evelyn S. Raesler, Caroline S. Burg, Mayme S. Brainerd and Ruth B. Sharp; and his parents, Henry and Vera (nee Schaeffer) Sharp.
Friends may call Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in Family Fellowship Foursquare Church, 780 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, with the Rev. William Mouer, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery, Amherst. Military honors will be by the Amherst Veterans Military Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 324, Elyria, OH 44035; or New Life Hospice, 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria, OH 44035-1450.
He married Mary Lou Taylor in 1943.
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Obituary, Jan. 20. 2003, "The Chronicle-Telegram", (Elyria, Lorain Co., OH)
HENRY J. "HANK" SHARP
Henry J. "Hank" Sharp, 78, of Amherst, a decorated military veteran, columnist and Boy Scout executive, died Saturday at St. Joseph Hospice Center of New Life Hospice following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Born in Amherst, he was a lifelong resident and a 1941 graduate of Amherst High School.
He entered the Merchant Marines in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942, serving as an airborne radio operator in Troop Carrier Command during World War II. He accumulated 786 combat flying hours and participated in the D-Day, Holland and Rhineland invasions and was awarded numerous medals and honors.
Upon his retirement from military service in 1964, he began a career with Boy Scouts of America as a district executive. He served in the Okanogen Valley District and Lake Chelan District in Sharp Washington from 1964 to 1968 and in Alaska, where he lived until moving back to Amherst in 1971.
Mr. Sharp wrote a column for Amherst News Times, titled "Those Were the Days," for many years. The column later appeared in Senior Years, a monthly newspaper for Lorain County seniors.
He served on the board of trustees for Senior Citizens Association of Lorain County and on
Family Council of Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky. He was a member of a selection committee for Amherst Public Library. He was also a member of Amherst Citizens for Community Values, Amherst American Legion Post 118, Vermilion AMVETS Post 22 and Amherst VFW Post 1662, where he was former adjutant.
He appeared in several productions of Amherst Workshop Players. In 1991, he was a Republican candidate for Amherst Council. He also was a member of Retired Enlisted Association, Sergeants Association, Air Force Association and National Rifle Association.
Mr. Sharp attended Church of the Open Door in Elyria, where he was a member of Ambassadors Adult Bible Fellowship. He was a former member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst, where he sang in the choir and was an usher, greeter and deacon. He also was active in many church groups. He was a member of Gideons International Lorain Camp, where he had held offices of scripture chairman, secretary and vice president.
He received a certificate of graduate of Bible Studies from Institute of Biblical Studies at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
He enjoyed singing and playing the organ, harmonica, guitar, ukulele and drums.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Lou (nee Taylor); sons Michael S. of College Park, Ga., and David A. 0: Spokane, Wash. ; a daughter, Cecilia Lara of Velleyford, Mass. ; a stepson, Thomas M. Gergel of Amherst; stepdaughters Judith Danahoo of Wellington and Laurie Beattie of Amherst; and 15 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Vera (nee Schaeffer); brothers Alfred, John and Reuben; and sisters Evelyn S. Raesler, Caroline S. Burg, Mayme S. Brainerd and Ruth B. Sharp.
Friends may call 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst.
Funeral services will be II a.m. Saturday at Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Amherst. The Rev. William Mouer will officiate.
Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery , Amherst, with military honors by Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 324, Elyria 44036, or New Life Hospice, 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria 44035.
Obituary, Jan. 20. 2003, "The Morning Journal", (Lorain, Lorain Co., OH)
Henry J. Sharp, 78, newspaper columnist
January 20, 2003
AMHERST -- Henry J. "Hank" Sharp, 78, of Amherst, died Saturday, Jan. 18,2003, at New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph, Lorain, following a lengthy illness with cancer.
He was born Jan. 24, 1924, in Amherst.
Sharp wrote a newspaper column, "Those Were The Days," in the Amherst News Times for many years and continued it in "Senior Years," published for Lorain County seniors.
He graduated from Amherst High School in 1941 and entered the Merchant Marine in 1942 and sailed the Great Lakes for two seasons. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and accumulated 786 combat flying hours in World War II, participating in D-Day and campaigns in Holland and the Rhineland.
He received the EAME medal with seven battle stars, Air Defense Medal with two oak clusters, the Medal for Human Action, Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp, Berlin Air Lift Device, European Occupation Medal and two Presidential Unit Citations. In 1964, Sharp retired from the Air Force and began a career as a Boy Scout executive. He served in the Scouts' Okanogen Valley District and Lake Chelan District in Washington state from 1964 to 1968, when he was transferred to Alaska and served until returning to Amherst in 1971. He was head custodian at Central School, Amherst, from 1972 to 1974.
Sharp served on the board of the Senior Citizens Association of Lorain County and on the Ohio Veterans Home's family council. He was a charter member of Amherst Citizens for Community Values and a member of Amherst Public Library, Amherst American Legion Post 118, Vermilion AMVETS Post 22 and Amherst Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1662, where he had served as adjutant. He was a member of the Retired Enlisted Association, Sergeants Association, Air Force Association, National Rifle Association and Gideons International Lorain Camp, where he held offices as vice president, secretary and Scripture chairman.
He attended the Church of the Open Door, Elyria, and its Ambassadors Adult Bible Fellowship, and was a past member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church, Amherst. He had run for councilman-at-large, was a member of the Lorain County Republican Party and received a Bible studies certificate from Liberty University Institute of Biblical Studies in Virginia. He was a student of the Bible and enjoyed singing and playing the organ, harmonica, guitar, ukulele and drums.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Lou Sharp (nee Taylor); sons Michael S. of College Park, Ga., and David A. of Spokane, Wash.; daughter, Cecilia Lara ofVelleyford, Wash.; stepson, Thomas M. Gergel of Amherst; stepdaughters Judith Danahoo of Wellington and Laurie Beat tie of Amherst; and 15 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Alfred, John and Reuben; sisters Evelyn S. Raesler, Caroline S. Burg, Mayme S. Brainerd and Ruth B. Sharp; and his parents, Henry and Vera (nee Schaeffer) Sharp.
Friends may call Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in Family Fellowship Foursquare Church, 780 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, with the Rev. William Mouer, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery, Amherst. Military honors will be by the Amherst Veterans Military Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 324, Elyria, OH 44035; or New Life Hospice, 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria, OH 44035-1450.
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