President Howard C. Sharp

Howard Cannon Sharp is a man I first met in 2000.  However, my husband met him in 1982 as he was the very first mission president called to preside over the newly formed California San Bernardino Mission.  Patrick loved him as President Sharp became his spiritual father.  When a 20 year mission reunion was organized in 2000, we made sure we went to Salt Lake City to attend.  

That's where I first met he and his wife Marjorie.  Since then we have kept in contact during the October General Conferences.  We would go visit and watch a session of conference with them.  Sister Sharp always fed us, which she didn't have to do, but we appreciated her for her service to us.  He recently celebrated his 94th birthday.  He was a warm, genuine, good humored man who I came to love in a very short time.  All of our children who met the two of them, came to love them as well.

We saw them in June just prior to our going into the MTC.  We visited on Saturday and each of us was edified for the time we spent.  He was quite frail.  It was difficult to see him in such a condition as he has been so active through most of his life.  Prior to us leaving, Patrick knelt down next to him to tell him of his love.  President told him this would be the last time they would meet in this life.  That left the rest of us in tears.  We surprised him the next day by coming back and assisting the local young men president in giving him the sacrament.  It was such a tender service for Pat to perform.

We will miss him deeply but we're thankful for the chance we had to have our paths cross here on earth.  As you can see by the obituary, he had a very FULL life.  I am thankful to have know this sweet, gentle man!
Howard Cannon Sharp
1925 ~ 2019
Howard Cannon Sharp was released from this world on September 8, 2019, encircled by his loving family. He will long be remembered for his love of family, adventurous spirit, kind service to others, and his sense of humor. Howard was born in Salt Lake City, Utah July 17, 1925, the son of Ira Bennion Sharp and Lois Cannon Sharp. In 1946, he married his sweetheart, Marjorie Taylor, in the Salt Lake Temple. He graduated from the University of Utah Medical School at the age of 22, and served his country in the Air Force. As an Obstetrician / Gynecologist, he delivered over 12,000 babies. He founded the first chronic pelvic pain clinic for women at the University of Utah in 1987, and worked tirelessly to help increase the quality of life for his patients.
When he had free time, he could be be found fly fishing or horseback riding up the Weber, playing tennis, skiing, boating in the "Gravid Goose", playing jazz piano by ear, reading, or traveling the world. If asked about how his day was going, he would likely reply: "Super deluxe, master-built, and fur-lined."
He had a great love of the gospel of Jesus Christ and had the opportunity to serve a humanitarian mission to Ekaterinburg, Russia with his wife Marjorie, and as mission president in San Bernardino, California for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was humbled to be called as a Stake Patriarch. He enjoyed serving as a counselor in the Salt Lake Temple Presidency and as Temple President in Palmyra, New York, where he learned a greater love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is survived by Marjorie, his long-time loving, eternal companion of 73 years, his sister, Dorotha Smart, his brother, Robert Sharp, and his seven children: Margie Rogers (Gary), Becky Hamilton (Dean), Elizabeth McCune (Mark, deceased), Kathy Parker (Jon), Rosemary Davis (Terry), Howard T. Sharp (Kristie), and Suzanne Moffitt (Ron), as well as 27 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister, Mary Lois Wheatley and a grandson, Jonathon Sharp Parker. When asked, "How do you like having so many daughters?" He responded, "I like it so much, I specialized in them."
A viewing will be held Thursday, September 12th at Larkin Sunset Lawn, located at 2350 East, 1300 South from 6-8 pm. His funeral will be held Friday, September 13th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Monument Park Stake Center, located at 1320 South Wasatch Drive, at Noon, with a viewing at 10:30 am. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery immediately following the funeral services. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to send a donation to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation or the International Pelvic Pain Society.