Robert 'Bob' Sharp, 92

Robert I Sharp, “Bob," passed away April 30, 2026, at his beloved home in Hayden Lake, Idaho. He was born in Bloomington, Calif., on Dec. 27, 1933.

Bob was the youngest of seven boys: Lewis, Russell, Dale, Kenneth, William, Stanley and Bobby, as his family called him. His parents, Forrest and Hilda, did a wonderful job with a house full of boys. In high school, Bob played the trumpet; he always enjoyed music and could whistle beautifully. The standards and big band were his favorites.

After high school, Bob served four years in the Air Force at several bases, the last one in Yuma, Ariz. After the Air Force, Bob came home to Southern California and married the love of his life, Nora A. Nelson, on Jan. 5, 1957. They had two daughters: Jill, married to Jack Delavan, and Julia, deceased in 1978.

Bob, in partnership with Jack Kennedy, established an independent insurance agency, Kennedy & Sharp, in 1961 in Fontana, Calif. In their early years, they lived in Bloomington, moving to Yucaipa, Calif., in 1968.

Bob, Nora and their girls spent many happy summer months traveling to West Yellowstone and the Lake Hebgen area with a whole caravan of longtime friends. The original glamping experience. He enjoyed fishing with a fine meal and a tumbler of scotch, using his finger as a stir stick at the end of the day.

Before moving to Idaho in 1978, Bob and his siblings, their wives and numerous children got together for picnics and large Christmas gatherings. You could just show up at Forrest and Hilda's home for Sunday supper and there was always plenty.

After moving to Idaho, Bob and Nora bought several insurance agencies, most notably the Insurance Shoppe. At age 62, Bob retired to a life of golf and camaraderie over cards at the Men's Grill at the Hayden Lake Country Club. Nora continued to run the agency.

My dad, Bob, had lots of opinions, many stated quite vociferously. He was a neat and tidy guy; things had to be just so.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Nora, who passed away in 2003. Bob is survived by his daughter, Jill, and husband, Jack, and their children, Nick and wife, Aimee, and Kate Delavan and husband, Will Lowell; great-grandchildren: Olivia and Jaxsen Delavan, and Jude Delavan Lowell.

We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the people surrounding Bob, enabling him to live out his days in his home.

His First Light caregivers and Gentiva Hospice made all the difference in his last weeks.

Rest in peace, Bob, Dad and Grandfather.

Please visit Bob’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

    Sharp