Jack Hall Sharpless, 69, of Valdosta, GA, and formerly of Cairo, GA, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta.
Mr. Sharpless was born in Madison, WI, on Sept. 7, 1944, to Charles and Elda (Hutton) Sharpless.
Mr. Sharpless was a natural at piloting airplanes and teaching flight school. He loved all things aeronautic and wrote a poem, “The Earthbound Observer,” which led to a book by the same name about the NASA program. He was also an accomplished guitar player and songwriter, producing several CDs of original songs. He attended First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, IL, and First Methodist Church in Cairo, GA.
Surviving are two sons, Matthew (Jennifer) Sharpless of East Aurora, NY, and Ryan Sharpless of Atlanta, GA; a daughter, Brittany (David) Smith of Orchard Park, NY; five grandchildren, Gabriel Sharpless of Buffalo, NY, Ellee Sharpless of East Aurora, Anna and Liam Smith of Orchard Park, and Callie Sharpless of Atlanta; a niece, Mara (Dustin) Ware of Fort Wayne, IN; a nephew, Justin Kessler of Nashville, TN; two great-nieces, Olivia Kessler and Mayla Ware of Fort Wayne; a great-nephew, Austin Moore of Fort Wayne; and a sister, Julie (David) Kessler of LaPorte, IN.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Michael (Gayle) Sharpless.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. EST at First United Methodist Church, Cairo, GA. Clark Funeral Home, Cairo, is handling arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Sharpless’ memory to Heifer International at http://www.heifer.org; click on “honor cards” to let your gift be known.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.clarkfuneral.com.