- Date Of Death: June 10, 2016
- State: New Jersey
Observe the heart of the wilderness walking through the woods and meadows listening to the songs whispered by the winds. The most beautiful stones have been tossed by those winds and smoothed by water. Just like the stones we have been polished by the gifts of our fathers.
Through the wisdom of the years and the strength of their values we learn humility and patience to strive for balance through harmony with nature. On Friday June 10, 2016 Major Roy F. Sharkey, U.S.A.F., Retired passed away peacefully at the Lutheran Crossing in Moorestown and death is no more than the turning of us over from time to nature. Roy was born and raised in Easton, PA and began his working career as a machinist and lathe operator at Bethlehem Steel, supporting the war effort before being granted permission to enlist. Our American soldiers don’t fight because they hate what’s in front of them.
The fight because they love what’s behind them. Major Sharkey was born in Easton, PA and had been a longtime Willingboro resident. His home contributed to the manpower of our nation upholding the ideals of american freedoms in the U.S. Army Air Service Group during WWII. Roy enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Services Group in 1942 and graduated as an Aviation Cadet in 1944 in Stockton, CA. He served in the 381st Air Services Group as a Flight Officer assigned to the 4th Combat Cargo Group. He was later assigned to the 513th troop carrier in the China air service command flying Curtiss C-46 Commando and Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft over the China, Burma, India Theater and was honorably discharged from active duty in 1946 with an American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and a WWII Victory Medal as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Major Sharkey continued to serve his country, for more than 20 years, in the reserves and retired from military service as a Major. Following WWII, Roy returned to school received his undergraduate from Lafayette College in Easton, PA and subsequently received his Masters in business administration from Pittsburgh University. Mr. Sharkey continued his career at Sears & Roebuck in Philadelphia for over 20 years working as a Merchandise Manager then later as a Catalog Sales Office Manager until his retirement. Roy was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting small game and camping, especially in Corning, NY with Harold “Ike” & Ginny Hickcox. He also enjoyed leathercraft and a quiet night at home reading.
Mr. Sharkey is the widower of his late wife Jean Louise (nee Zoller) and companion of the late Audrey Kirchhofer. Roy is the father of Terence & his wife Mona and Michael & his wife Pony Sharkey. He is the proud grandfather of Sean (Nancy), Patrick (Tracy), Jessica, Melanie, Ryan and great grandfather of Malakie, Serenity, Nathaniel and Ainsley. He is also survived and will be sadly missed by his niece Andrea (Ed) Benz as well as the Osborne, Gordon and Kerr families in Ontario, Canada.
