1938-2025
Richard Harland Harp was born on March 31, 1938. On January 6, 2025, after the 2024 election was certified, he decided it was time for him to go. He refused to endure President Trump, again. He departed this life, quickly, leaving behind numerous packages of BC Powder and three Coors Light. His family finds no comfort in knowing that he will continue to vote Democrat. However, we all giggle a bit because we mentioned President Trump in his obituary.
At the age of 18, he enlisted in the Army and went straight to Korea. He served one term, working on the road crew and returned home, to the love of his life, Charlotte. Richard & Charlotte eloped on August 5th, 1961. To that union, three children were born, Glenn, Gina and Lance. Richard became an electrician in the late 60’s at E. L. Bruce in Memphis. In 1974, the family relocated to Sheridan, Arkansas. Richard and Charlotte made the most of their 41 years of marriage together, always making sure they did things as a family. When funds were tight, on payday, they would go to Krystal Burger in Memphis, sit in the car and enjoy ten cent burgers. They took the kids fishing, hunting and would ride back roads. Several times, in July, they happily loaded in a vehicle with no air conditioning, sticking to the vinyl seats and enduring the blistering heat to travel to Pensacola, Florida to visit family. Richard and Charlotte were best friends, and once the children were older, they enjoyed taking fishing trips to Lake Chico and visiting casinos. One of the things Richard spoke about often was the road trip they took to Pikes Peak, Colorado. He would tell everyone they should go at least once.
After he lost Charlotte, Richard was lost and needed to get away. He decided to take off on a trip to Las Vegas and took his grandson Hunter with him. Like Shrek & Donkey, they set out on a whirlwind adventure that included all you can eat buffets, life lessons and memories Hunter will carry with him forever. Garrett, his grandson, was eight years old when he shot his first buck! His Papaw was with him and Garrett remembers how proud and excited he was. The best compliment that Richard would give was when he would tell someone they reminded him of his beloved, Charlotte. Most recently, his granddaughter Sydney was cutting his hair. He began to reminisce and told her about when her Mawmaw would cut hair for all the neighborhood kids, and that he was proud of her. He wasn’t big on saying I love you, and didn’t pass out very many “atta boys” or “atta girls” so when he did, you knew he really meant them.
Once Richard gave up hunting, he became a lottery scratch off ticket enthusiast! This hobby was fueled by the fact that he continually won. No matter how hard his family tried, the luck never rubbed off. If you knew Richard, you know he was extremely private man who was incredible proud of his family. If he saw a member of his family’s name in the Sheridan Headlight, for any reason he felt reflected poorly on him, you can bet they would get a stern phone call! Between collecting his lottery winnings, and monitoring the paper, he found time to cruise the back roads, drinking coffee and sitting at Jenkins Ferry. During July, Richard loved delivering Cave City watermelons to his lady friend.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte, son, Lance, a sister, Sandra and brother, Jimmy.
Richard is survived by his son, Glenn Harp (Crisann); daughter, Gina George; grandsons, Hunter Harp and Garrett George (Jessica); bonus grandsons, Christian (Tiffany), Connor (Ali) and Camden (Glory); granddaughter, Sydney George; bonus granddaughter, Calynn Horton (Justin); great granddaughter, Serenity Harp; bonus great granddaughters, Aurora, Viviann, Annistyn, Lainey and Ellie Kate; bonus great grandsons, Dawson, Gavin, Barrett and Hendrix; brother, Tommy (Pat); numerous relatives and friends.
Over the last couple of years, Richard made it abundantly clear to everyone that after he departed this life he did not want to be put on “display.”
He didn’t want everyone looking at him and crying, which is why we will all be enduring the extreme cold, while sitting graveside at 12pm on Thursday, January 9th at Memorial Gardens Cemetary in Sheridan. Richard got the last laugh.
Pallbearers: Glenn Harp, Hunter Harp, Garrett George, Camden Blair, Justin Horton, and Dennis Mitchell.
