Gene S. Sharp, age 94 of Wapakoneta, passed at 10:47 a.m., Saturday, July 2, 2022 at the Springs of Lima. He was born May 9, 1928 in Lima, Ohio to the late Jesse Spencer and Esther Zelma Good Sharp. He married Ruth E. Winters and she preceded him in passing. On September 5, 1982 he married Theda K. Binkley Merriman who passed on May 5, 2016.

Gene served in the Merchant Marines during the last year of WWII and was awarded the WWII Pacific War Zone Medal and Ribbon and the WWII Victory Medal and Ribbon. In addition, he was given a letter from President Truman thanking him for his service. He enlisted in the US Army and served in the Pacific Air Command, Air Corps Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan during 1946/47.

Gene retired from the Fort Shawnee Police Department where he had been chief for 10 years and was a member of the St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a life member of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police; member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 21; a member of the V.F.W. Post 8445 of Wapakoneta, and the American Legion Post 96 of Lima. He was a life member of the Fraternal Order of the Free and Accepted Masons, Valley of Dayton, 32 Degree, Lima Masonic Lodge 205. He had taught law enforcement basics at Apollo, Wright State University, and Lima Technical College. In 1968, he was a founder, charter member, and first President of the S.A.B.E.R.S. Rifle Club on Hanthorne Road. Founder and member of the Military History Club connected to the Allen County Museum and Museum founding member of National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Mr. Sharp is survived by a step daughter – R. Christine Flora of Santee, CA; granddaughters – Michelle R. Osterhout (Wesley) of Marysville, OH and Tammy J. Hickerson (Justin) of Holland, OH; step granddaughters Hannah and Chloe Flora of West Palm Beach, FL; great grandchildren – Nicholas Osterhout (Bethany), Libby Murray (Seth), Lindsey Mathewson, and Luke Mathewson; and a great great granddaughter.

Also preceding him passing; a daughter – Rhonda Lynn Sites; brothers – Jack E. Sharp and Robert D. Sharp; and a sister – Marjorie Martha Thompson.

Funeral services will begin 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville. Pastor Doug Pretorius will officiate. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta where military rites will be observed.

A Masonic funeral will be observed at 3:00 p.m., Monday, July 11, 2022 at the funeral home. A Fraternal Order of Police services will be held at 7:00 p.m., Monday at the funeral home.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Monday, July 11, 2022 at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Auglaize County Humane Society.

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