Harold "Gene" Sharp has passed on

[Jim Saunders]

I just learned that Gene Sharp died yesterday. He had been in failing health for about a year and he had just moved to a hospice when he died. Gene loved country music and he played steel all his life. He once showed me a picture taken just after WWII with him playing a double neck Fender in a bar in Tokyo.

I met Gene in 1999 when Ann Fabian called me to ask if I would mind showing Gene my Carter. He was contemplating buying a Carter and he wanted to see one up close. Gene came over and we ended up jamming all afternoon and we've been friends since then. I'll miss him.

He was a retired police officer from Houston PD.

[billchav]

Gene and I were friends of over 52 years and shared many hours cruising the streets of Houston talking steel guitar trivia when not runing calls. After work he would often call me late at night after he had learned or heard Pete Drake play a new lick. I recall Buddy Bryant telling a story at THE TEXAS STEEL GUITAR JAMBOREE of Gene lending him his steel when they first got back from the service.
RIP my friend

[Jack Stoner]

Sorry to hear that. Gene and I e-mailed occasionally, and especially after he found out his Houston Police Department partner and one time band member, Bob Rees now lives near me.

[Jim Saunders]

Gene's funeral will be Saturday, August 21, at Brookside Funeral Home, 13,401 East Tex Fwy (Hgwy 59), Houston, Texas. Visitation and viewing will be at Brookside, Friday, 5:00 til 7:00.

[Jody Cameron]

I hate to even look at the Gone Home section anymore. I knew Gene pretty well...spent some time with him on several occasions. We were both interested in WWII airplanes, and steel guitar. I will miss Geno...jc

[Jody Sanders]

What Jody C. Said about the "Gone Home" section. Gene was one of the good guys. He put me back in touch with my old friend Carl Gradick that I started in music with back in the '40s. Carl is probably playing guitar in the picture Jim has as Gene and Carl served together in the Pacific. Gene will be missed by all that new him. May GOD bless, comfort, and keep his family always. Jody.

[David Higginbotham]

I had the chance to meet Gene several years ago at his home when I went to pickup an amp I had purchased from him. We stayed in contact for sometime after that. Unfortunately as is too often, life got in the way of staying in touch.

Gene was a great person and very nice individual. He was a retired Police Sergeant with Houston Police and had some great stories about his career.
Dave