William Richard Sharp

WILLIAM (BILL) R. SHARP, passed away Wednesday, February 29, 2012, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 87. Bill was born on the family farm in 1925 near the community of Floris in Beaver County, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of three children born to Mamie (Fincher) Sharp and Sidney Sharp. Bill attended Greenough grade school, and graduated high school in 1943 in Liberal, Kansas, where he could take advantage of math and science classes, and where he enjoyed playing basketball and baseball. After he graduated high school, he worked on the family farm for a short while. He then entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and attended Officer Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Instructor Camp in Rucker, Alabama. He was stationed in Japan until his discharge in 1946 as a First Lieutenant, Infantry Company Commander, at age 21. He received written commendation from Commanding General, Eighth Army, for services performed while on Eighth Army Headquarters staff. After World War II, he worked briefly on the family farm before attending Oklahoma State University (BS Engineering), and then Oklahoma University (BS Geological Engineering, Tau Beta Pi, 1961). During College he developed a passion for airplanes, such that he obtained his pilot license and worked on and owned several airplanes. He worked for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Corporation in Liberal, Kansas, and then transferred to Fort Worth, Texas, in 1966 with Anadarko Production Company where he met his wife, Joan (Baker) Sharp. They were married November 26, 1972. While with Anadarko, he served in various capacities, including that of Exploration Engineer, Area Geologist, and Chief Evaluation Engineer. In his work with the Company, he oversaw all oil and gas exploration and production operations. He moved to Houston, Texas, in 1974, to work for Ada Oil Exploration Corp., Inc., which later became Adams Resources & Energy. He retired as President of Adams Resources & Energy in December, 1998. At Mr. Adams’ request, he continued as a consultant until October 2006. Bill became a Society of Petroleum Engineer Legion of Honor member in January 2011 for 50 years of continuous membership. He was a 32nd Degree Mason of Hooker Masonic Lodge No. 366 of Oklahoma for 57 years. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in Liberal, Kansas. Bill loved boating and fishing, especially in Rockport and Port Aransas, Texas.

As a loving and devoted husband and father, he is survived by his wife, Joan; sons, William M. Sharp of Houston, TX, and Roger Sharp of Aurora, CO; daughter, Susan Nobles and her husband Gary of Sugar Land, TX; and grandson, Jacob Nobles of Sugar Land, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Clorean (Sharp) Breen; and an infant sister.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 10, 2012, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. at Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478, with the Rev. M. Eugene Vickrey, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory may be made to Houston Hospice, a non-profit organization, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030-4123.