Larry Frank Sharp

Larry grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and liked to call his childhood the “ball years.” If it ended in “ball”, he and his brothers played it and often their dad coached. During high school, his family moved to Bartlesville, and basketball had won out as his sport. He graduated from Bartlesville College High school in 1965. He attended Phillips University where he was able to play basketball as a Freshman, and then on to Drake University where he was a part of their 1969 Final Four team, an experience he forever held as one of the greatest of his life. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education in 1970.

He married Susan in 1980 which he says, aside from accepting Jesus as Savior, was the best decision he ever made. Providing a safe and stable home and life for his girls was his greatest purpose in life. And being Pops to his grandchildren was his greatest joy. He was a fixture at every raucous family get together.

He was a gentle giant and man of few words. But he was known for a witty and ornery sense of humor.

Known as Large or Big Cat to the friends who knew him best. He was an avid and skilled golfer, who spent as many hours on the course as possible. He was an Assistant Pro at Hefner Golf Course, and it continued to be his favorite place to play. Aside from his girls, golf was his greatest love, and his golfing buddies were some of his most beloved friends until the very end.

Larry was baptized as a child and came to love and rely fully on Jesus in the early 1980s. He spent years serving as an usher, deacon, and elder at Our Lord’s Community Church and as a Sunday school prayer leader at Crossings Community Church. He believed deeply that God does not care who you are or what you’ve done or where you’ve been, He loves you and wants to use you as only He can.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents Basil and Norma Jean Sharp, brother Barry Sharp, and grandsons Logan and Griffin Chill.

He is survived by wife Susan Burns Sharp; daughters & sons-in-law Lauren & Clayton Sargeant, Karlee & Jeff Chill, Mallory & Greg Evans, Shay Sharp, and Maggie & Eli Esquivel; grandchildren Sophie & Sam Sargeant, Charlotte & Nora Evans, Evelyn Chill, and Enzo Esquivel; brothers Gary and wife Kris, Terry and his children Michelle Cartmill and Royce Sharp, Brothers-in-law Greg Burns and wife Patricia, and Tim Burns and wife Lisa.

A celebration of Larry’s life will be held Thursday, July 30th at 10 a.m. at the Chapel of Crossings Community Church, 14600 Portland Ave. OKC, OK 73134. Suits & ties were not Larry’s favorite. Please dress casually and comfortably - golf shirts and shorts are encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to HALO Project International, providing mental health support for foster and adoptive families (haloprojectokc.com).