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John Roger Sharp, 61, of Topeka, Kansas, died March 9, 2009, at his home. He was born July 19, 1947, in Kansas City, the son of John Ezra and Minta Fay (Jones) Sharp. He spent his youngest years in Lenexa, Kansas. He attended Shawnee Mission West High School graduating in 1965. He also attended the University of Kansas and was an avid fan of the Jayhawks.
John was a veteran of the Vietnam War serving in the Marine Corps.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Chris. He is survived by a daughter, Lena Marie Sharp of Fairway, Kansas; a son, Justin Matthew Sharp of Las Vegas, Nevada; a brother, Bill (Connie) Sharp of Grass Valley, California; a sister, Karman (John) White of Lenexa, Kansas; and other relatives and friends.
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Johnette Massey (Hodgin)
Roger was one of the Lenexa group, who I first met in kindergarden. Several of us took summer school each summer in high school and carpooled with Roger..had a great time. He went to KU so lost track of him after a few years. Was sure sad to learn of his death.
Gary Fischer
When my folks were out of town Roger and I would stay up all night working on our cars out at our place on what was to become College Boulevard. He had a 1939 Chevy with a '57 Chevy engine-of course it was black, because that was the only color they had for cars back then. As it was slightly illegal (he ran racing slicks on rear end) he never drove it to school, but we sure had wild times on weekend nights-and we never got stopped by the Lenexa cops, though they knew Roger well. He was a real enigma: he had a bright mind-one of those annoying people who could get good grades without really trying-but he was challenged to consistently put that bright mind to good use. He was bored at KU his freshman year and came to see me one fall day at Pittsburg our sophomore year: he said he was through with school. I said: "You mean you are dropping out?" His reply: "Hell no, I'm done with it". I spent the rest of the day trying to convince him to go the Registrar's Office and officially drop out, but made no headway. He then joined the Marines before the Draft Board could nail him, and off to Vietnam he went. He went off a boy and came back a very different man; he never was the same and, according to his sister, spent the rest of his years under VA care. Such a waste, but I prefer to remember the good times we had summers and weekends. Rest in Peace, Roger.