Bill was born on January 8, 1928 in Evening Shade, Arkansas. He attended Evening Shade High School where he was a member of the Future Farmers of America and the basketball team. He met his future wife, Faye Wanda at one of the basketball games.
The youngest of three brothers who served in World War II, Bill joined the Merchant Marines. He served on the oil tanker USS Meuse Argonne and was also assigned to a transport ship, the USS George W. Cambpell. Bill often talked about being in Times Square on V-J Day, when World War II came to an end.
Bill married Faye Wanda Hulett on March 30, 1946 in Arkansas. They soon moved to Armona. Bill and Faye Wanda first worked at the Armona cannery. He then found a job working for two building contractors, Ed Misner and Vernon Paddock. Together the three men built the Kings Drive-in Theater. They removed old grapevines, paved the theater lot, installed speakers and built the snack bar and the screen. The drive-in opened in October 1949 and the three men then operated the theater.
After completing work at the drive-in, Bill went to work for Kings County Cement Pipe Company, now Bennett & Bennett Irrigation. Serving the farms and farmers of the valley was his life-long passion – Bill worked for Bennett & Bennett for 64 years. He worked for three generations of the Bennett family and made many life-long friends.
Bill enjoyed deep-sea fishing with friends and co-workers. He had a love of sports, especially the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers. Bill and Faye Wanda especially looked forward to and enjoyed vacations in Arkansas and Kansas, where they visited family and friends.
Bill cherished his family and was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Faye Wanda Sharp. He was also preceded by his parents John Wesley and Grace Graddy Sharp, two brothers, John Jr. and Harold Lee (Porter) Sharp, and three sisters, Theda Grace Sharp, Willene Elms and Jean Baker.
Bill is survived by his son Michael Sharp (Mary Lou) and daughter Debbie Silva (Lynn), four grandchildren: Jaime Collis (Terry), Jeremy Silva (Loni), David Sharp and Patrick Sharp, and three great-grandchildren: Cole Collis, Elowyn Silva and Ravenna Silva. He is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Willene Norris, Virginia Layne and Freda Wallis numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Sunday, January 7th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at People’s Funeral Chapel; 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA and Graveside Service will be held on Monday, January 8th at 11:00 a.m. at Grangeville Cemetery; 10428 14th Ave., Armona, CA and a luncheon will follow at Hanford Fraternal Hall; 1015 N. 10th Ave., Hanford, CA.
Donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society; www.conquer.org/donate and the American Lung Association; www.lung.org
Family and friends are invited to view Bill’s legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and send condolences to the family.
Services by People’s Funeral Chapel.
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