James M. Sharp; Rancher, School Trustee

Santa Paula resident James M. Sharp, grandson of one of the county’s pioneer ranchers, died Saturday. He was 87.

Sharp was born April 18, 1910, at his parents’ ranch in Santa Paula. He attended Stanford University, where he was a teaching assistant in electronics and radio.

During World War II, Sharp worked as a field engineer in New York for Western Electric. After the war, he returned home to manage the ranch, where he raised lima beans, walnuts, lemons, oranges and avocados. He retired in 1980 but remained active in the ranching community, serving on the boards of Alta Mutual Water Co., Farmers Irrigation Co., Associates Insectary, Fruit Growers Laboratory, Ojai-Tapo Citrus Assn. and Citizens Bank of Santa Paula.

“He was very patient, very intelligent,� said Pat Alderson of Santa Paula, Sharp’s niece. “There will be a huge hole in our family now that he is gone.�

He was passionate about flying, received his pilot’s license in 1939 and sat on the board of directors of the Santa Paula Airport Assn. Sharp also loved music, books, fishing and took an interest in education.

Sharp served as a trustee for the Saticoy Elementary School District, Ventura High School District, Ventura Unified School District and County Committee on School District Organization. He recently retired from the board of directors of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, where he served for 25 years.

Sharp is survived by his wife, Evelyn Balling Sharp; daughter Norine Lunsford of Forest View, Mo.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial tribute will be held at the CP Aviation hangar at Santa Paula Airport at 2 p.m. Saturday. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Donations may be made to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, 825 N. 10th St., Santa Paula 93060.