David Leonard Sharpe

July 10, 2023, (Retired) Lieutenant Colonel David Leonard Sharpe, 81, of Lyons, Georgia, joined his glory peacefully at Hospice of the Golden Isles where he was in the presence of his only child and son, David Edward Sharpe. Early that morning, the clouds lifted, and the Spirit of God that resided within him soon ushered him to the heavenly spiritual realm.

David Sharpe and Janine Warther married August 19, 1972, in Statesboro, Georgia, and immediately moved to Saint Simons Island, Georgia where they resided for 10 years together in marriage. On December 16, 1978, they gave birth to their only child and son, David Edward Sharpe. After David and Janine peacefully parted ways in 1982, David has called Saint Simons Island, Georgia home for more than fifty (50) years and at which he has enjoyed unparalleled views of the Georgia Coastland.

An avid golfer during his retirement, David enjoyed playing the sport across the United States. A highlight for him was playing with his son, his nephews Wade, Craig, and Phil. He loved to travel and visit to see David and his family, including two grandchildren, Dax and Mabel. Some visits were about sorrows, such as the passing of his brother, Gerald, but others were to celebrate weddings and new life as little ones arrived, or to celebrate family by spending time with his niece Sharon and her husband Phil, and their two sons, Brandon, Tyler and his wife Ashley, joining in on his nephew Clay’s get togethers to visit his four children, Jeremy, Jennifer, Katlyn, and Michael, visiting his nephew and his wife, Craig and Joan, and their son Casey, and taking trips to see his nephew Wade and his wife Jennifer and their daughter, Samantha. The Facetime, phone calls, letters, cards, and visits David received during the final months of his life were a tremendous source of joy, peace, and comfort to him.

David, the youngest of two children was born on December 3, 1941, to George and Leila Sharpe in Lyons, Georgia. His early jobs, which he held down while in school, included working at the family businesses as a barkeep and television repair technician, a bug exterminator in the Reidsville State Prison, enlisting in the U.S. Army then attending Officer Candidate School that led to his being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and working as a student-teacher at his alma mater, Georgia Southern College. On May 20, 1960, he graduated from Lyons High School and went on to serve in the U.S Army Reserves and Georgia National Guard for forty-one (41) years from 1960 to 2001, acquiring the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and in 1966, graduated U.S. Army Ranger School – becoming the first Army Ranger in the Georgia National Guard. He earned his Master of Science for Teachers with a Minor in Mechanical Arts from Georgia Southern College in 1970. Soon thereafter, he received a teaching position at Glynn Academy High School, Brunswick, Georgia teaching Mechanical Drawing. After, he became a pilot and served as a volunteer to fly day and night patrols for the local Civil Air Patrol. Then in 1986, he accepted a position with the Brunswick College [College of Coastal Georgia] as an Associate Professor in Mechanical Drawing.

Teaching was David’s vocation and first love. At Glynn Academy High School, he taught Mechanical Drawing. During the summers, David had his own business, affectionately named after his son and only child’s initials, DESCO [David Edward Sharpe Company] Designs, drafting commercial and residential plans, and for the local government to produce a model and memorial of a WWII Liberty Ship-which is displayed today at Mary Ross Park, Brunswick, Georgia.

In a word, David was curious, and his inquisitiveness and keen intellect drove all his pursuits. His passion was teaching-be it high school, college, and one-on-one during his personal time after-school, serving his country, piloting planes for the local Civil Air Patrol, attending air shows, or putting his skills as a master draftsman to work envisioning, creating, and executing complex structural homes and buildings. David was driven; he wanted to understand the intricacies of each part, machine, movement, and to master the requisite tool(s) for each task. Whatever he did, he was all in! He started his journey in a very poor household, having no shoes until age six (6), sleeping on a concrete floor underneath a pool table in the family bar business and finished it by the grace of God in residing in a Top 10 tourist destination in the United States – Saint Simons Island, Georgia. When he took up television repair with his brother, Gerald, and his father, George, in the family business, he learned to be patient, methodical, and precise that led him to receiving his Master of Science in for Teachers. Graduating from U.S. Army Ranger School as a Second Lieutenant he learned how to overcome his fears and to be an effective leader-placing people under his care from high school students to his fellow Rangers and soldiers under his command to succeed beyond his personal and professional goals in life. He did not only volunteer to help his family and friends, but anyone who he sensed needed help or those who asked for his support. When anyone asked or he approached them, they would benefit from his wisdom regarding any topic.

For his entire life, David was a man of integrity and “do the right thing when no one is looking because the Man Upstairs is always watching you.” He was not only a father, grandfather, and uncle, he was a surrogate father to his niece, nephews, and students. He enjoyed witnessing family, friends, students, and acquaintances succeed beyond their own understanding.

His canine companions were dear to him. Hap was his childhood hunting dog, and Sam “Mutt-Mutt” was his and his son’s family rescue dog who both joined their glory years ago and are on a long walk with him now.

David’s spiritual journey was fraught, and therefore hard-won. As a young man, he made a profession of Christian faith and was active in a small town church. He later parted ways with organized religion, but he never left behind the teachings of our Jesus—he was a principled man of integrity always in search of the truth. In his final years, he deeply contemplated his faith, and he came full circle in his beliefs and recommitted himself to our Messiah.

Family Who Went Before

David was predeceased by father George Arthur Sharpe Jr., who joined his glory January 19, 1974, mother Leila Davis Sharpe, who joined her glory November 20, 1968, and brother Gerald Arthur Sharpe, who joined his glory September 24, 1999.

Family He Left Behind

He is survived by son, David Edward Sharpe, grandchildren Dax and Mabel Sharpe.

As mentioned, David is the youngest of two children. He leaves his only child and son, his two grandchildren behind, one niece and four nephews. They include son, David Sharpe, grandson, Dax Sharpe, granddaughter, Stella Mabel Sharpe, niece, Sharon Smith, nephews, Clay Sharpe, Craig Sharpe, and Wade Sharpe.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.edomillerandsons.com for the Sharpe family.