Albert Pennock Sharpless

Albert (Bert) Pennock Sharpless died August 8, 2024, in Auburn, Washington at age 96. He was born on July 2, 1928, in Wilmington, Delaware, the first child of Bevan Percival Sharpless and Ethel May Gamble Sharpless.

After early schooling in Chevy Chase, Maryland, he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC. He then earned a B.A. in history at Stetson University. He served in two branches of the military, first in the Naval Reserve, which took him to Senegal, among other places on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. During the Cold War, he served in the Army, stationed in Germany near the Czech border. He married Lucy (Sue) Agnes Willmott on June 18, 1955 in Coconut Grove, Florida.

Bert met Sue through her brother, John, who, like Bert, was a model railroad enthusiast. Besides model railroading, Bert was an avid stamp collector and photographer. He enjoyed sailing his father-in-law’s Lightning in Biscayne Bay. Influenced by his astronomer father, Bert was active with the Southern Cross Astronomical Society and the American Association of Variable Star Observers. He built several telescopes and made observations from his backyard in South Miami, including the recording of the brightness of variable stars. Bert and Sue enjoyed traveling, spending time in the mountains of North Carolina and in Europe. They were voracious readers and enjoyed classical music, especially music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. They often gathered with friends to play early music on their recorders.

Bert was employed for many years by Pan American Airways. Pan Am brought Bert and Sue to SeaTac, Washington, when it moved its operations from Miami. The couple were active with a Seattle stamp club and participated in a political discussion group.

Bert is predeceased by Sue, who died in 2012, and leaves behind a sister, Barbara May Sharpless Cooper of Gainesville, Florida and two brothers, Bevan Percival Sharpless, Jr. of Dallas, Texas, and Thomas William Sharpless of North Bay Village, Florida. He also leaves behind nephews Walter, Bevan, Perry, and Robert, nieces Brenda, Rebecca, and Kathryn, his sister-in-law, Louise (Bitsy) F. Willmott of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, nieces Wendy, Jennifer, and Alice, and nephew John (Jay).

Bert’s ashes will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery. A celebration of life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Lung Association.