Richard Ronald Sharpe

Richard R. Sharpe (Dick) Lt.Colonel USAF, Ret., 84, passed away on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Arlington Texas. Funeral Service: Tuesday February 26, 2019 at 11:00 am at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1400 S. Cooper Street, Arlington TX 76013 with Reverend Neil Norman officiating. Interment: Tuesday February 26, 2019 at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas TX 75211. Visitation: Monday February 25, 2019, 6-8 pm at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 West Pioneer Parkway, Arlington TX 76013. Dick was born on November 1, 1934 in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Tom Sharpe and Dora Bebout Sharpe. After the death of his mother in 1937 he lived with his grandparents in South Dakota and California. Dick graduated from High School in Lewistown Montana, and later from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. He enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF) in July of 1952 and was trained as an Airborne Radio Operator serving at Stead Air Force Base, Reno NV and Wheelus Air Force Base, Tripoli Libya. He joined the USAF Aviation Cadet Program in 1954 and graduated as a Second Lieutenant Pilot in June of 1955. After completing advanced fighter pilot training, Dick was assigned to Turner AFB, Albany, GA for his first operational fighter pilot assignment where he met and married Doris Chambers. During the next 19 years, Dick completed fighter pilot assignments, which included operations in Italy, Germany, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Thailand, Vietnam and headquarters assignments in Hawaii and Virginia. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force after serving 21 years in February 1974. After retiring he went on to work at Control Data, Minneapolis, MN, LTV/Loral/Lockheed Martin in Program Management and part time computer teaching at TCCC. Dick and Doris were long time members of Epworth United Methodist Church in Arlington. Dick continued volunteer work at Arlington Memorial Hospital. Dick was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 years, Doris and son Richard, Jr. He is survived by two daughters, Sherry Andrus (Scott), Susan Clark (Michael); daughter in law Carla Sharpe; Brother Tom Sharpe (Darlene); grandsons Kevin Sharpe (Nicole), Derek Sharpe and Jared Clark; and special friend, Wilma Arthurs. Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233