Milburne Sharpe

Mr. Milburne Chandler “Chan” Sharpe, born on June 14, 1935, passed with his wife Lela and son Chris by his side after a long battle with heart disease on March 4, 2021. Chan was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and was a “Navy Brat” moving around to several locations with his Father, Milburn Osborne “Mo” Sharpe and his mother Minnie Mae Sharpe. After Chan’s father retired as a CAPTAIN from the Navy, the family moved to Houston, Texas where Chan attended Lamar High School.  In High School Chan was a drummer in the Marching Band, was in ROTC and enjoyed riding horses.

Upon graduation, Chan enlisted in the Marine Corps.  After basic training, Chan deployed to Korea, where he was a gunner on close air support helicopters.  After his deployment to Korea was over, Chan returned to the US to become a Drill Instructor.  When his active tour was completed, Chan transitioned to the Marine Reserves and relocated to Houston to begin College at the University of Houston, where he studied Radio, Television and Electronics.  His goal was to obtain his degree and come back into the military as an Officer.  While in college, he met his first wife, Carole Jones, and they married in 1963. After graduating Chan was commissioned into the Air Force via the Officer Training School and was assigned to Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, Kansas as a Public Affairs Officer.  Chris was born in Salina in September, 1964.

Chan’s career would have him serve in Izmir, Turkey; San Antonio, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; two tours in Vietnam, Riverside, California; Minot, North Dakota; Little Rock, Arkansas and finally back in Houston, Texas. In 1979 Chan retired as a Major at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. His wife Carole died in 1982 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Chan enjoyed flying, travel, and hobbies such as, photography, military history, writing and wildlife. Chan meet and married Lela McCann of Houston in 1995. He and Lela were members of the Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter in Houston and actively supported the chapter for many years.

Chan’s son, Chris was commissioned into the Air Force from the ROTC program at Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, in 1986.  Chris was a Space and Missile Officer, Command and Control Officer and later, a Manpower, Personnel and Services Officer.  Chris retired in 2014 as a Colonel after 28 years of service after 11 assignments and deployments in support of Kosovo, Iraq and the Global War on Terrorism. Chan lived vicariously through Chris’ career and was a constant source of advice and counsel to Chris throughout his service.

Chan leaves behind his wife, Lela Sharpe; son, Chris Sharpe; daughter in law, Susan Sharpe; grandsons, David and Michael Sharpe.

Chan was buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, in a private family service.

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