Richard Bond Sharp, 88, of Grain Valley, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Blue Springs, MO. Mr. Sharp will be interred at the Rock Island National Cemetery.
Richard retired with over 30 years’ service from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District. For 23 years, he was Chief of Project Operations Branch in charge of the districts navigations structures. He served with an artillery firing battery in Korea including forward observer duties with an Australian Infantry unit during the Korean War and retired as a Captain from the Illinois National Guard. For his service to our country fighting the global war on terrorism, he received the Freedom Team Salute Certificate of Appreciation from the Secretary of the Army and The United States Army Chief of Staff.
Richard was a life-long Chicago Bears fan and watched them play many games at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field. Other enjoyable activities included scuba diving and sailing in windjammers throughout the Caribbean. An annual visit to the Hawaiian Islands during retirement years was a must that always included early morning ocean swims.
Richard was preceded in death by his former wife, Marilyn; son, Michael; brother, William; and stepson, David.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Sharp; son, Bradley and wife, Michele of Milan, IL; daughter, Lori Long and husband, Mark of Des Moines, IA; son, Kurt of Olympia, WA; stepdaughter, Kathie Kundanani of Las Vegas, NV; stepdaughter, Dianne Stivers of Grain Valley, MO; stepson, Daniel Miller of Council Bluffs, IA; 8 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; and 24 step-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441
Nelisa Anderson
21 Oct 2020Dick was such a wonderful man and I thank God that I got to meet him and Pat. I am truly grateful for the many years of friendship that I have had with them. God bless you Dick until we meet again! I love you!
Deborah
25 Oct 2020I love you UD. Say hi to everyone for me and no ambushing pop, ok? OK!
Julie “Jones” Sweeney
26 Oct 2020Mr. Sharp was my dad’s boss at the Corps. Dad respected Mr. Sharp tremendously. All ten children of our family remember Dick’s name and dad’s respect for him. Our condolences to the family.