Phillip Robert Sharpe

Obituary of Phillip Robert Sharpe Phillip R. Sharpe, of Gasport, passed away, peacefully, surrounded by family, on Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at Eastern Niagara Hospital, Lockport, after a brief illness. Phil was born March 10, 1940, in Washington DC to the late Gordon L. Sharpe and Betty Lorine Parslow but was raised by his true mother, the late Ida B. (Vincent) Sharpe. The family moved to Niagara Falls, in Phil’s early childhood, and later to Lockport where he grew up on Chestnut Ridge Road and attended Royalton-Hartland High School. He married the late Kathleen E. Porth in August 1964. They resided in Burt and raised their two boys, Warren and Allen, until her untimely passing at the age of 37. Phil was employed by Niagara County Social Services from March 1979 until his retirement in 1996. He served as mail clerk, then in Child Welfare where he implemented the county’s cloth diaper program. There he reunited with his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Lou Vincent-Short, whom he married on January 1, 1980. He then moved to Gasport. He enjoyed meeting with his breakfast club at Talk of the Town or Sunrise Café, in Gasport, and loved attending classic car cruises and shows, where he showed off his red 1976 Cadillac Deville. He also enjoyed camping and fishing with his family and was an avid conservationist and member of the Hartland Conservationist Club. He loved all animals, particularly his Shih Tzu Yorkie, Tipper, and his six cats, all of whom he rescued. Phil is the brother of Donna (Louis) Reale of The Villages, Florida; Richard (Sandy) Tripp of Lakeview, NY; George (Cheri) Tripp of Port St. Lucie, FL; Marcia Schafer of Middleport; Dan (Diana) Bragg of Gasport; Bruce (Faith) Sharpe of Elmira and Velma Udell of Lockport; brother-in-law of Mary Baldwin-Porth of Newfane; David (Josie) Porth of Lockport and the late Michael Porth. He was predeceased by his brother Vincent Sharpe. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Lou; his mother-in-law, Esther C. Vincent of Newfane; his children, Warren E. Sharpe of Niagara Falls; Allen W. (Conny) Sharpe of Lockport; David (Kim) Short of Newfane; Catherine Miller of Troy, MO and Christopher “Vinnie” (Diane) Short of Jerseyville, IL, as well as seven grandchildren, three great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. The family would like to thank the staff of 2 Center and 2 North, ENH Lockport, for the loving care they provided Phil and his family during his hospital stay. The family will greet friends at Sherrie Bream Funeral Home, 4521 Main Street, Gasport, on Friday, February 6, 2015 from 2 to 4 and 6-8 pm. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 11:00 am from the funeral home. Interment will be in Acacia Park Cemetery, North Tonawanda, at the discretion of the family. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations, in Phil’s memory, to the Aquarium of Niagara Falls, Save-A-Pet, the Buffalo Zoo, or any other charity of your choice.