SHARPENSTEEN, III, Claude

Published in The Yuma Sun on January 7, 2012 Claude Sharpensteen III passed away on Thursday, January 5, 2012. His life was cut short by an unexpected bout with Cancer, which took him to be with the Lord in only three months. On March 15, 1946 Claude entered this world in the back seat of his father's car in front of the Copper Queen Hospital in Bisbee, Arizona. Claude's father, was co-owner of the famed "City of Yuma" airplane, whose Endurance Flight in 1946 "put Yuma on the map" and was responsible for reestablishing the Marine Corps Air Station. Claude attended Kofa High School and graduated from Yuma High School in 1964. He attended AWC, the University of San Francisco, and the University of Hawaii. Claude enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a dreamer, an entrepreneur, forever the optimist, and always looking for ways to improve quality of life in innovative ways. Claude is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Jo Beth; two sons, Claude Kenneth Sharpensteen (Amanda), Christopher Ryan Sharpensteen (Kelly); two grand-daughters and a grandson to arrive in March. A Memorial and Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 16th St. and 14th Ave., followed by a reception at the BPOE Elks Lodge 476, 2300 Elks Lane, at 12:30 p.m. where he was a life member.