Franklin "Frank" Everett Sharp

Frank Sharp, beloved husband of Olga Sharp passed away peacefully in the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre on  Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at the age of 89 years.

A TRIBUTE TO FRANK

Lover of ice cream, a good western book, coffee and conversation and most of all farming - we are sad to announce the passing of Frank Sharp.  Frank was born in Bashaw, Alberta on June 29, 1935, to parents Hobart and Elizabeth Sharp. He was raised on the family farm with his three sibling, Frances, Bill and Bob. He attended the George School and later Mirror School before attending Olds College receiving a Diploma in Practical Agriculture. He later received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Alberta in 1959.

Frank was known for his gift of gab, a talent that served him well throughout his many years in sales. He enjoyed a successful career with Canada Packers, Allis-Chalmers, John Deere, and Cyanamid. His work took him all over Alberta, and there wasn’t a small town he hadn’t visited. When working at John Deere, he met his future wife while taking inventory. Ollie and Frank were married on July 22, 1961, and recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. Their journey took them from Peace River to Calgary, raising three daughters along the way. Frank however always felt the pull back to farming and in 1975 returned back to Bashaw.

Frank had a mixed farm, raising grain and cattle, and loved the farm life. Harvest season was always a favorite part of the year for him, as long as the crops were good, machinery worked, and the weather held. Many a meal were had on tailgates as harvest stopped for nothing.  

An avid community supporter, Frank was a member of the Bashaw Agricultural Society, sat on the Board of Directors for the Bashaw Seed Cleaning Plant and the REA (Rural Electrification Association), a member of the Canadian National Junior Angus Heifer Show Committee and was a 4-H public speaking judge on numerous occasions.

After selling his cattle, this gave Frank and Ollie the opportunity to travel. They visited their daughter Patricia several times in Australia, also visiting New Zealand, Singapore, Hawaii, Fiji,

New York, and Mexico. A favorite trip was a visit to Alaska and the Yukon. Frank especially enjoyed this as he had spent several summers during his university years working in Haines, Alaska.  You could tell by the amount of hats that he brought back from this trip.

Frank liked to keep himself busy with hobbies such as reading, mostly westerns and mysteries, driving around for miles checking crops, woodworking, making crochet-bowls for the crafters, wooden boxes, tables and special on demand projects from his grandchildren. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandkids, and nothing brought him more pleasure than having them follow him around the farm and join him for a tractor ride.

After years on the farm, Frank and Ollie, decided it was time to retire and settled in Lacombe in 2015. Frank however had a hard time leaving the farm behind but still managed to bring a small John Deere tractor along with him – in case there was any snow to plow.

Frank will be remembered for his way with words, endless storytelling, a great sense of humor and his kind nature. You knew you were in his circle when he would ask you “Do you think you will ever amount to a hill of beans?” Frank loved people and he never met a stranger. He was genuinely curious  about people – especially if you were from a town in Alberta – because he knew them all. He never forgot anybody and would tell stories of people he had met years ago.

Many hours were spent at the kitchen table with countless friends and family, visiting over coffee. Frank always had time and made time for people. It was always an open door and there was a steady stream of people dropping into say hello.

The coffee pot was always on.  Frank will be missed by his loving wife of 63 years, Ollie, his children, Beth (Alvin), Patricia (Fred), Sandra (Kevin) and his grandchildren, Justin, Cody, Patrick, Robert, Haley and Cooper.

He has been predeceased by his brothers, Bill and Bob Sharp.

If desired, a memorial contribution may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

A Come and Go Gathering in Celebration of Frank's Life  will be held at Wilson's Funeral Chapel, 6120 Highway 2A, Lacombe, Alberta on Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  A Graveside Service will be held at the Earlville Rutherford Cemetery, County of Ponoka following the Gathering.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Franklin "Frank" Everett Sharp, please visit our floral store.