Donald Richard Sharp

Donald grew up in Grand Terrace with his older brother, Harold. He graduated from Colton Union High School in 1949.

He attended Valley College until 1951, when the Korean War broke out and he enlisted in the United States Navy. He was a machinist mate on the “Pine Island”, a seaplane tender, turning salt water into clear water.

He married Shirley Parker in 1953 and together they had three daughters, Karen Dale, Katie Gail, and Donna Fay.

After his service in the military, he was employed at Norton Air Force Base for just over 30 years in the Civil Engineering-Refrigeration Department. He also worked at San Bernardino Valley College where he taught Refrigeration classes at night for 25 years.

His marriage to Shirley ended in 1973. He met Donna Mae Sharp and her four children, April Lorraine, Jeffery Garfield, Venisa Lynn and Teshia Ann and they married in 1976.

After retiring from Norton Air Force Base in 1979, he worked for the San Bernardino County Facilities Management Department for 11 years until he retired on a medical disability at the age of 70. He then volunteered as a driver picking up veterans for their doctor appointments at the Jerry Pettis Veteran’s Memorial Hospital in Loma Linda. He drove for 10 years until he was no longer able to drive. He continued to volunteer in the hospital for a few more years.

Donald passed into the presence of the Lord on February 3, 2022; he would have been 91 years young in April. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Nellie Sharp, brother, Harold Sharp, son, Jeff Romero, and son in law, Mike Rose.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Sharp, six daughters; Karen and her (husband) Rand Ledbetter, Katie Sharp-Rose, Donna Sharp, April Thompson, Venisa and her (husband) Kevin Castro, and Teshia Velasquez, 14 grandchildren; Mark, Jason, Anna Lisa, Jason, David, Adam, Nathan, Tiffany, Shaun, Brittany, Danielle, Bryce, Corey, and Taylor, 17 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Donald will be greatly missed because he was greatly loved.