Donald Sharpe

Mr. Donald Sharpe, age 90, of Cleveland, Tennessee entered into the arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 14, 2018 at 5:30 PM at Tennova Healthcare Center in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Mr. Sharpe was a graduate of Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Psychology. He began his long and distinguished career in personnel and human resources soon after graduating, and was in charge of staffing the Frank Ix plant and the Mallory Battery plant start-ups in Lexington, North Carolina. He was personnel director of the entire timers division of the Mallory company in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He was a veteran of the United States Navy.

He was a long-time resident of Cleveland, where he was an integral part of the personnel/human resources team for many years at the Duracell Battery Plant. He counseled many employees at Duracell on practical 401K contributions and smart financial planning, having a great positive impact on the lives of many. He was a member of First Baptist Church, and an active participant in the local personnel management group, as well as an avid fan of working out at the YMCA.

He was born on June 24, 1928 in Lexington, North Carolina to William Roy Sharpe and Minnie Smith Sharpe of Lexington, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Irene Sharpe Hayes (Howard) of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Mr. Sharpe is survived by his wife, Nell Haynes Sharpe of Cleveland; his daughter, Nancy Anna Sharpe Scates (Donald), of Franklin, Kentucky; two granddaughters, Jacquelyn Scates McCray (Brendan) of Nashville, Tennessee, Andrea Katheryn Scates of Franklin, Kentucky, and a grandson, Graham Phillip Scates (JoAnna) of Lexington, Kentucky. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Nancy Haynes Blackburn of Lexington, North Carolina, and thirteen nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with the Reverend Tom Wickes officiating.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM, and on Wednesday afternoon from 12:00 – 1:00 PM prior to the service.

Mr. Sharpe’s body will then be transported to Lexington, North Carolina where a graveside service and interment will be officiated by the Reverend Johnson Gupton. Interment will take place at the Forest Hill Memorial Park.  Donald Scates, Graham Scates, George Dewbrew, Carl Blackburn, and Brendan McCray will serve as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be, Bill Campbell, Wayne Smith, Ellis Wheeler, John Williams, Randy Stripling, David Walker, John Yost, Dr. Richard Hughes, Jack Duggan, Carl Ivester, George Lessig and Bill Smithson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the local Samaritan’s Place, a charity which aids orphaned, abandoned, and neglected children.