After a long battle with cancer, Derrick A. Sharpe passed in his home in New Bedford on Saturday September 14, 2019 with his wife of 32 years as he wished.
Derrick was a decorated Navy Corpsman, Fleet Marine Force. He loved the military and veterans and volunteered for various organizations over the years. He was born in Oxford, England and lived in many countries due to his father’s lifelong military service and later his own service in the Navy.
He was a classical guitarist and composer. His master work is named ‘Carpenter’s Suite’, which he composed for Our Lord Jesus Christ. He was also in several bands in Los Angeles, CA including ‘Derrick & Some Other Guys’ (Rock) and ‘Lunatic Fringe’ (Christian Rock). He loved teaching and had a TV show named ‘Your Guitar Lesson’ that ran in the LA area for three years.
He had several passions including golf, martial arts, and bird watching. As docents for Malibu Creek State Park, he and his wife led bird watching walks. He also was a golf instructor for youth in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Atlanta.
Above all he loved the Lord Jesus Christ. He preached and taught whenever he could. If you talked to Derrick you heard about Jesus!
He is survived by his loving wife Cathleen Carr-Sharpe of New Bedford, and his mother, Clara (Moore) Bryant of Savannah, Georgia.
He was predeceased by his father, Henry Alonzo Sharpe, his brothers, Henry Alonzo Sharpe, Jr. and Gregory Lorenzo Sharpe, and his brother-in-law, Terence Sean Carr.
His Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday October 1, 2019 at 2 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Military honors will follow. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 12-2 PM prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Beacon Hospice, 182 North Main St., Fall River, MA 02720. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.