Darrell Joe Sharp, known to his friends and family as Joe, was born on August 2nd, 1948, in Hutchison, Kansas. He died on October 24th, 2025, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Joe and his sister Deana were raised in Ulysses by his parents, Harvey and Georgie. He graduated from Ashland High School before joining the Navy in 1966. Joe served on two ships during the Vietnam war. Both the USS Chemung and USS Tolovana were Cimarron-class oiler ships that provided fuel to combat ships in the Pacific Ocean. On June 26th, 1970, he married Mary Thorpe in Monterey Park, CA.
After his service, Joe and Mary moved back to Ulysses where Joe worked for Dowell in the oil industry. During their time in Ulysses Joe and Mary fostered 27 children including Brian Nelson and adopting Lawrence “Larry” Sharp. In 1988 they moved to Lawrence, KS where Joe took a job with the City of Lawrence as a sanitation worker. He also took several part-time jobs including driving the double-decker bus for the Jayhawk Bookstore as well as a private limousine driver. In 2009 Joe retired from the City and spent his time on hobbies.
During their time in Lawrence, Joe and Mary were massive supporters of KU Sports and especially of Women’s Basketball and cheerleading. Joe crafted many beautiful pieces out of wood and gave them away to friends and family. He presented KU Basketball Headcoaches Larry Brown, Roy Williams, Bill Self and Marion Washington with custom wood clipboards. These were often seen on TV during live games much to Joe’s delight. He created other special pieces including wood clocks and presented them to assistant coaches and the cheer squads.
During the pandemic Joe taught himself how to paint and created even more works of art that he gave to friends and family. He also enjoyed scratch-offs and playing the lottery. He hoped to win enough to buy a private jet to see the world in.
Joe was a friend to many and could always be counted on. He was an example of a good father, a good neighbor and a great man. Always ready with a joke and a smile, Joe will certainly be missed. He is survived by his wife Mary, and sons Brian (Tammi), Larry (Matt) and grandson Dylan.
A visitation service will be held on November 6th from 6-8pm with the family at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.. Come by and share stories about Joe and check out some of his woodwork and paintings.
Joe was a great hard-working Shipmate and friend of mine for 58 plus years. We served together on the USS Chemung AO-30 on the gunfire support line off the coast of South Viet Nam in 1967-68. Our paths on the ship crossed at chow and ashore on liberty. I was in the deck dept, and Joe was in engineering. It was very hard and dangerous work for all hands at sea and in port. We ran into each other a year later when his ship was at Da Nang Viet Nam where I was stationed at the time. After that we didn’t see each other until the nineties. We were both attending ships reunions with our wives. Joe and his charming wife Mary hosted a reunion in St Louis in 1995. Bar none we have had reunions all over the country coast to coast including where we live. This St Louis reunion was the best we ever we attended. We toured everywhere there; weather was September picture perfect, and we had great BBQ beef. They even with Mary’s help got me to go up in the St Louis Archway. I’m very claustrophobic and was scared at the start. Then I didn’t want to get off. I could go on and on about that reunion but Joe’s up in heaven telling the Supreme Commander now. Joe was a good friend and very talented who made things and sent them to me. He was a great Sailor, American and will be missed deeply by all his family and friends. Fair winds and following seas Shipmate.
Michael “Mikey” & Diana “Sam” Thagard West Beaches Jacksonville Florida
So sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers 🙏 are with you and your family.
Mary, My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have so many fond memories of both you and Joe.