Rex Edward Sharp

Rex Edward Sharp, 86, of Wilmington, died Saturday, January 2, 2010, at the Commons of Brightmore. Rex was born in Corydon, Iowa, the son of the late William Edward Sharp and Blanche Allison Sharp. His brother, Max Eugene Sharp and brother-in-law, Harold Trimble, preceded him in death. Rex graduated from Corydon High School in 1941 and enlisted in the US Army Air Corps/Army Infantry serving during WWII in the Panama Canal Zone. His rank was corporal at the time of his honorable discharge. Rex attended college on the GI Bill graduating from Iowa State with a BS in electrical engineering. He was employed by IBM as an electrical engineer for most of his career. Rex was a member and former Trustee of Pine Valley United Methodist Church, the American Legion and WWII Remembered. He was a life member of Masonic Lodge #59 A.F. & A.M., Newton, IA, and Iowa State Alumni Association. He volunteered at the Senior Center and the Battleship NC and enjoyed bowling, golf, and participating in the Senior Games. Rex is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lona Butin Sharp; four children, Dana Adams William of Wilmington, Susan Heitshusen Stuart of Des Moines, IA, Lynn Skipper Michael of Lewisville, NC, and William Sharp Peggy of Yakima, WA; six grandchildren, Christopher Adams Marina, Elizabeth Kurkowski Kiel, Jill Adams, Laura Van Hoesen, Brittany Skipper, and Zachary Skipper; sister, Genevieve Trimble of Hudson, IA and sister-in-law Gladys Sharp of San Diego, CA; 6 nieces and 5 nephews. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 pm, Thursday, January 7, 2010, at Andrews Valley Chapel, 4108 South College Road. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, January 8, 2010, at Pine Valley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeanne Ray officiating. Interment will follow in Oleander Memorial Gardens. Special thanks to the nurses and staff of the Commons at Brightmore and to the staff of the Lower Cape Fear Hospice for their care and support of Rex, Lona and the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Rex's name may be made to Pine Valley United Methodist Church, 3788 Shipyard Blvd., Wilmington, NC 28403, or to Iowa State University Foundation, College of Engineering Fund for Excellence, 2505 University Blvd., PO Box 2230, Ames, IA 50010-2230; 1-866-419-6768, [email protected] or give on-line at www.foundation.iastate.edu/gift; or to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington, NC 28401.