Ray was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1922 to Raymond Joseph Sharp, Sr. and Florence Mary Madonna Durfee Sharp. He lived with his family in Mays Landing, New Jersey until his enlistment in the U.S. Navy in 1940. Ray's Naval service brought him to Brevard County in 1942 and again from 1946 - 1949. While here he met, and in 1947 married his wife, Elizabeth Modell Potts Sharp; their marriage lasted almost 67 years until her death in 2013. They returned and took up permanent residency in Brevard County in 1984.
Ray was called to the ministry in 1946 while attending the First United Methodist Church of Cocoa. After his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1949 he pursued his education to achieve his calling. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Waynesburg University, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania in 1952, majoring in Spanish. In 1956 he earned a Master of Divinity Degree in pastoral care and chaplaincy from Duke University Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina in 1956. While pursuing his studies, he also served Methodist churches in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He was ordained in the Florida Conference of the Methodist Church and he and his family returned to Florida in 1956. He served as a Methodist minister in Florida until his retirement in 1988.
Ray received an Honorable Discharge from the U. S. Navy in 1949. His military service encompassed the entire period of United States involvement during World War II. He achieved the rating of Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate, and served as flight engineer in combat air crews. His wartime assignments took him to the south Atlantic and to the Pacific. He saw action against the enemy in both theaters. Ray was a member of American Legion Post 359 and a Life Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 15010.
Ray is survived by his son, Raymond, two daughters, Kris and Kimberly and his sister, Florence. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Modell Sharp and a third daughter, Kathleen. His descendants also include four grandsons, one granddaughter, one great grandson, two great granddaughters, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Ray will be held at First United Methodist Church of Cocoa on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 11:00 am. At his request, graveside interment service will be private, for family only, at Brevard Memorial Park, Frontenac, Florida.
Florida Today September 9, 2015
Ray was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1922 to Raymond Joseph Sharp, Sr. and Florence Mary Madonna Durfee Sharp. He lived with his family in Mays Landing, New Jersey until his enlistment in the U.S. Navy in 1940. Ray's Naval service brought him to Brevard County in 1942 and again from 1946 - 1949. While here he met, and in 1947 married his wife, Elizabeth Modell Potts Sharp; their marriage lasted almost 67 years until her death in 2013. They returned and took up permanent residency in Brevard County in 1984.
Ray was called to the ministry in 1946 while attending the First United Methodist Church of Cocoa. After his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1949 he pursued his education to achieve his calling. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Waynesburg University, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania in 1952, majoring in Spanish. In 1956 he earned a Master of Divinity Degree in pastoral care and chaplaincy from Duke University Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina in 1956. While pursuing his studies, he also served Methodist churches in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He was ordained in the Florida Conference of the Methodist Church and he and his family returned to Florida in 1956. He served as a Methodist minister in Florida until his retirement in 1988.
Ray received an Honorable Discharge from the U. S. Navy in 1949. His military service encompassed the entire period of United States involvement during World War II. He achieved the rating of Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate, and served as flight engineer in combat air crews. His wartime assignments took him to the south Atlantic and to the Pacific. He saw action against the enemy in both theaters. Ray was a member of American Legion Post 359 and a Life Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 15010.
Ray is survived by his son, Raymond, two daughters, Kris and Kimberly and his sister, Florence. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Modell Sharp and a third daughter, Kathleen. His descendants also include four grandsons, one granddaughter, one great grandson, two great granddaughters, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Ray will be held at First United Methodist Church of Cocoa on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 11:00 am. At his request, graveside interment service will be private, for family only, at Brevard Memorial Park, Frontenac, Florida.
Florida Today September 9, 2015
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