Robert Jay (Bobby) Sharp, 62, of Marietta, passed from this life into the arms of his Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at home after a long battle with cancer. Bobby was born January 12, 1960 in Gainesville, Texas to Robert Eugene (Bob) and Joycie Mae Harris Sharp.
A lifelong resident of Marietta, Bobby attended Marietta schools through graduation in May 1979. He was a member of Eastside Baptist Church, always loving Jesus and making memories with his fellow members during activities such as attending Falls Creek Baptist Camps.
Bobby started his career with Love County Lumber working after school and weekends, becoming a full-time employee for over 25 years before leaving to move to Oklahoma City for a year and then returned to the Marietta area to join the Love County EMS Fire Brigade stationed at Winstar World Casino in 2008, where he continued employment until his passing.
Bobby loved his community and being a part of the bigger picture. He joined the Marietta Volunteer Fire Department in 1982 following in his father’s footsteps becoming Fire Chief in 1999, where he served until 2006. Upon retirement in 2007, Bobby moved with his wife to Oklahoma City taking a job with Petroleum Equipment Company Inc. before returning to Marietta to begin his lifelong dream of being a “fulltime” Firefighter/EMS. He also rejoined the Marietta Volunteer Fire Department in 2008 and remained an active member until his passing.
Bobby knew no strangers, he met people from all walks of life and genuinely became a lifelong friend. He was dedicated to serving in all aspects and was known as the person to call with any need or emergency. He would leave his home in the middle of a storm to assist folks with flooding issues, there were many nights he left to home to fight fire or work a wreck. He was also a storm watcher for a number of years, seeking to protect the people of this area from harm.
Bobby spent a number of years running the chains during football games. This fed a desire to become an official referee traveling over Oklahoma with a crew to referee football games. He stopped this activity when his children became more and more active in sports and other activities.
Then, in 2010 he joined the Texas Motor Speedway Fire Brigade working various race events held at the Speedway. Bobby developed close relationships with his team members and truly loved the work he was doing at the track.
He was constantly busy with projects for his family and friends as it just was not in his DNA to sit idle. Thus he built well houses, plowed fields, cut hay, and joined teams working cattle. Bobby left his loving touch all across Love County.
Bobby spent numerous hours hunting and fishing, generating a passion of these sports for his children and grandchild. Spending days in the woods hunting or on the water fishing alone or with his family and friends was next to heaven for him.
Bobby married LuAnn Landgraf in May of 1984. Two cherished children were born to them, Robert Zachary (Zach) and Kalen Olivia Sharp. Then in 2014 a new bright light arrived in the form of his greatly loved and cherished granddaughter, Jordyn Kensington Sharp. Family was very important to Bobby. He was his children’s biggest cheerleader, coaching and attending baseball, basketball, karate and dance events as the proud father and supporter. This transitioned to being his granddaughter’s biggest fan attending her dance events, as well. Bobby’s legacy of kindness and service lives on in the lives of his wife, his children, granddaughter, and his family and in the hearts of all those he had the pleasure to meet throughout his life. Bobby is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, father-in-law, Rickey Clark, along with several his aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He is survived by his wife, LuAnn, of the home; son, Zach Sharp and wife Bekah and granddaughter, Jordyn of Stillwater, OK; daughter, Kalen Olivia Sharp and fiancé, Clark Kaupke of Ft. worth, TX; sister, Robyn Hodges and husband Todd and nephew, Jake Hodges of Decatur, TX; brother, Roy Roland and wife Regina, and niece, Tiffany Flores and husband Alex of Lone Grove, OK, mother-in-law, Margaret Clark of Madill, OK, brother-in-law, Steven Landgraf and wife Jeri of Dequeen, AR, and sister-in-law, Laura Middleton of Madill; along with a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Serving as pallbearers will be Josh Bazor, David Bond, Kevin Cassels, Willis McKay, Heath Weaver, and JR Westmoreland. Honorary bearers will be Tom Thompson, Joe Bell, Bruce and Kathy Brooks, Rick Brannan, Brandon (Babar) Dunman, Sarah and Trey Goodson, Amanda Bazor, Mary Kay McKay, Mike Buxton, and the members of the Love County Brigade, Marietta, Greenville, Shadydale, Thackerville, Enville, East Side, Lake Murray Village, Eastman, Falconhead, Jim Town, Leon, Orr, Criner Hills and Courtney Volunteer Firefighters and Departments, as well as, The Texas Motor Speedway Track Services.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12th at the Marietta High School McClain Football Stadium. Interment will follow at the Lakeview Cemetery in Marietta. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Marietta. For those who wish to make a memorial contribution, the family suggests any of your local FDLC departments. Send directly to the fire department of your choice or drop off/mail to the funeral home, 100 E Main Street Marietta, OK 73448.
On-line condolences: wwww.wattsfuneralhome.com
