Joseph Mearl Sharp, loving husband and best friend of Glenda Long, father of J P and Preston Sharp, grandfather of seven, and friend of many, was born on March 19, 1950 to William Sharp and Georgia (Bechdolt) Sharp in Youngstown, Ohio. He left this world on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City at the age of 72 years, 8 months, and 28 days.

Joe was raised in Youngstown, Ohio and graduated from Austintown-Fitch High School in 1968 where he was a great saxophone player and member of the marching band. He completed two years of education at Mount Vernon University in Ohio. He moved to Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Bethany Nazarene College in 1973. On June 12, 2004 he married Glenda Long in Nevada while attending and enjoying a trip with Allstate Insurance.

He had a love for sports and played baseball in high school and college. He continued to play throughout his adult years. His love for sports included coaching his boys. He was the one who would take the bullet for all and if anyone was ejected from the game for setting the referees or umpires straight it was him. He was an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan and very vocal about it.

Joe began his first career in education teaching history and coaching. After working at GMAC Financial he entered his 30-year career with Allstate Insurance as the Oklahoma Rookie of the Year. He became a manager of agents for the state of Oklahoma and thoroughly enjoyed working face to face with everyone. He received numerous awards and loved to motivate the agents with a little entertaining song of "Taking Care of Business". After "Taking care of business" for thirty years he retired from Allstate Insurance Company March 31, 2010.

Joe loved being Grandpa and Gramps to his seven grandchildren. It gave him so much pleasure and satisfaction to spend time with them. Joe was a great communicator, loved to visit, and never met a stranger. He always said his wisdom came from his life experiences, and he shared his wisdom. His conversations will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. His favorite past times after retirement were reading the bible, playing his customized music list, cooking, and watching The Ohio State University Buckeyes.

Joe is survived by his wife, Glenda Long of Hydro, Oklahoma; two sons, J P Sharp of Tulsa, Oklahoma and his wife Hilary; Preston Sharp of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and his wife Becca; five sisters, Jean Christy of Canfield, Ohio and her husband John, Janis Clark of The Villages, Florida and her husband Russell, Jackie Hall of Moore, Oklahoma and her husband Daryl, Sue Montgomery of Athens, Alabama and her husband Pat, and Karen Taylor of Moore, Oklahoma; one brother, Billy Sharp of Bethany, Oklahoma and his wife Donna; seven grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two nieces, Shannon Lynne Clark and Michele S.  Montgomery, and one nephew Todd Klingel.

The family has asked that donations be made to the Hydro First Responders in lieu of flowers.