Billie (Bill) E. Sharp

Billie (Bill) E. Sharp went to be with the Lord on June 9th at his home in Moses Lake, Washington, with his loving family around him. Bill was born in Carroll Township, Ohio, on November 2nd, 1939, to Herbert and Noradell Sharp.  He grew up in Lancaster, Ohio, and graduated from high school in Ohio before entering the Air Force on July 23rd, 1959.  During his years in the Air Force, he was stationed at various places for his training, then stationed at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington.  It was there that he met and married Barbara Groff, the daughter of a local farm family.  They were married on August 12th, 1962, and got to go to the Seattle World's Fair on their honeymoon.  They celebrated several anniversaries at the fair site.  Bill and Barbara were blessed with two daughters and enjoyed raising them in the country by Moses Lake.  They took many camping trips with their girls during their school years. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Bill worked at various jobs in Moses Lake, including the sugar factory, a lumber supply and auto supply store, before back problems forced him to go to Big Bend Community College, where he received his accounting degree in 1976.  He was blessed to get a job right after graduation as a bookkeeper.  That job led to another bookkeeping job that he had to drive 40 miles each way every day.  When that job ended, he started working as the office manager/bookkeeper at the Moses Lake Golf & Country Club.  After sixteen years there, he decided it was time to retire.  About a year and a half after his retirement, Barbara also retired and they started traveling with their 27' camper and took a trip across the U.S. all the way to Washington, D.C., visiting friends and family on the way.  Five years later they hooked up their camper and left on a trip which took them around the U.S. for a total of 12,414 miles.  They visited with many friends and family, and enjoyed many wonderful sights, such as Niagara Falls, Yosemite National Park, Disney World, Mt. Rushmore and many more places.  They enjoyed their campground memberships and the many good friends that they made while camping.  They could make friends just about anywhere! Bill was preceded in death by his parents, older brother Martin, baby sister Bonnie and many very special aunts and uncles.  He is survived by his wife of 49 3/4 years, Barbara, daughter Becky (Neal) Simonds of Moses Lake, daughter Rhonda (Craig) Hummel of Covington, Washington, grandsons Joshua and Jacob Malecha of Moses Lake, grandson Geoffrey Hummel and granddaughter Alaina Hummel of Covington.  He also leaves nephew Rick, his daughter Lyndsi, and nephew Doug in New Hampshire, half brother Robert (Polly) Sharp, his sons Nathan and Jason, half brother Greg, his son Carlton,  as well as several cousins in Ohio and many wonderful friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the Peninsula Community Church, 2403 W. Texas St., Moses Lake. Inurnment will be at the State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Washington on Friday.  Please sign the guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com    Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory.