It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Richard (Dick) Sharpe on March 6, 2017 at the age of 91.

He is survived by his wife of close to 48 years, Donna, his 3 daughters, Linda Kirchner, Donna Ternes, and Sharon Sharpe, 6 grandchildren, Rick (Robin) Kirchner, Heather (Aenea) Palma, Justin (Melanie) Ternes, Kristine (Alain) Deschenes, Noel (Tomoko) Deschenes, Brian Deschenes, and 12 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Lois (Jack) Northcutt and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his mother and father, Anne and Harvey Sharpe, his sister Gini (Herb) Krieg, and his first wife Betty.

Dick lived a long and happy life with many good friends and family whom he loved dearly, and who loved him and would do anything to help him. In later years he had many health problems, but he always seemed to reach into his reserve strength to bounce back and carry on.

Dick was born in Calgary, but his family moved to the Okanagan when he was 10 because he had a heart condition that required a different elevation and climate. During WWII he joined the Canadian Navy and was a DEMS (defensively equipped merchant ships) gunner. After the war he worked on the CPR on Steam Trains running through the Kettle Valley, and the Coquihalla. After 11 years on the railway the diesel engines replaced many employees, and so he found work as a salesman and mechanic for Singer Company. He later started his own sewing company and serviced sewing machines in home economics classrooms throughout the Interior from Boston Bar to Revelstoke.

He enjoyed many years at his cabin at Walloper Lake where he and Donna entertained friends, family, and even a bear one Thanksgiving who stole the turkey the night before it was to be cooked.

There will not be a service at this time but family and friends will gather for a celebration of his life at a later date.

Special thanks to the nurses and staff on 7 North and 5 North at Royal Inland Hospital and to Drs. Borstlap, Tynan, and Malan who helped him through this last difficult year.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to his favorite charities, the Kamloops branches of the Salvation Army and the BCSPCA.

Condolences may be expressed at www.myalternatives.ca

• Date : 2017-03-06
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.