Osmond Charles ‘Bo’ Sharpless

August 17, 2023

Osmond Charles “Bo” Sharpless, 92, a native son of Cantonment Florida, passed away on August 13, 2023 after a brief illness.

Bo was born June 14, 1931 at his family home on the corner of Old Palafox and Diamond Dairy Road [now Burgess Road]. His parents were Osmond Sharpless of West Chester, Pennsylvania and Nannie Mae Braxton of Cottage Hill, Florida. He was raised with his two sisters, Dorothy Sharpless Kinne [now deceased], and Barbara Buckendorf. He was a 1948/1949 graduate of Tate High School, served in the US Army in Germany, and graduated from Florida State University in 1956. After marrying his wife of 58 years, Lois Dean Lewis of Florala, Alabama (who passed away earlier this year), they raised five children together; Diane Capers (Tommie), Susan Grantham, Gary Richards [now deceased] (Myrtle), Steve Richards (Cindy), and Sam Sharpless (Jennifer). To support this young family, Bo simultaneously worked full-time shiftwork at the Monsanto Nylon Plant, as part time soldier in the Florida National Guard, as a basketball referee, and as a substitute high school teacher. Bo ultimately retired from Monsanto a supervisor and from the Florida National Guard as Command Sergeant Major. During retirement, Lois and Bo enjoyed square dancing, volksmarching, and traveling together. They enjoyed their four grandchildren, Katie O’Neil, Jennifer Grantham, Stephanie Brown-Richards, and Carlson Sharpless; and his extended family including Jon Allen and Robbie Adams. Bo Sharpless had a lifelong association with the Boy Scouts of America, beginning as a “lone scout” even before the formation of Troop 20 in Cantonment. In scouting, he earned the titles of Eagle Scout, Ranger Explorer, Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, and Silver Beaver while mentoring countless young scouts in their lives and scouting careers. His lifetime of service included being a dedicated teacher, a postman, a tireless volunteer for the Red Cross, and serving in countless leadership positions at multiple churches and throughout multiple scouting organizations.

Funeral services will be held at 2PM on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at Gonzalez Methodist Church with Pastor Andy Perry officiating.

The family will receive friends at 1PM prior to services.

Burial will take place in Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 11AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Boy Scout Troop 628, or Gonzalez Methodist church.

Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries