Richard Eugene Sharp, age 62, of Richmond Hill, Georgia, passed away into the next chapter of life at home on Sunday, July 23, 2017 after a yearlong battle with cancer. We were blessed with his birth on June 4, 1955, in Gibson City, Illinois. He graduated with a master's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

Rick honorably served his country in the Army Corp of Engineers for twenty-one years, where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was most proud of his service duty as a paratrooper with the 82 ^nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. After retirement from the Army, he took on a professional position with Caterpillar Inc. in the Defense & Federal Products Division, retiring in 2016.

Rick is survived by his loving wife, Sue; daughter, Julie Moser of Richmond Hill; daughter and son-in-law, Faith and Dr. Terence Fitzgerald of Escondido, California; son, Matthew Sharp of Plainville, Illinois; three granddaughters, Kaitlyn, Gianna, Claire; four grandsons, Nate, Jack, Logan, and Bowie; mother, Shirley Skinner; sisters, Michele Nettleton, Sandy Hathaway, Heather Skinner; and brother, Steve Sharp of Gibson City, Illinois. Rick is preceded in death by his brother, Bill, and granddaughter, Brianna, who he has joined in Heaven.

Rick traveled the world with his beautiful bride of 39 years. His dedication to protecting and guiding his children is immeasurable and beyond words. He loved and spoiled his grandbabies with no remorse or limits. His favorite job had become being the greatest granddaddy. He is and will always be a superhero that had to finally trade in his cape for wings to walk with God.

Rick will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Services will be held at the Richmond Hill United Methodist Church on Wednesday, July 26 at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's Hospital for Children in Memphis, Tennessee or Hospice of Savannah.