Dr. Billy Byers Sharp, 79, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away suddenly on Friday, February 13, 2009. Billy was born on December 16, 1929, in Spur, Texas. He lived a dynamic life, marked by variety. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as an officer in the Armored Division. He completed his undergraduate education at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where he played football and majored in English. He was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by Austin College at a ceremony in 2004. Billy held a Masters of Divinity from Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, New Jersey, and a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Counseling from Columbia University in New York, New York. Billy was an ordained clergyman in the United Methodist Church. Over the years he served congregations in Nutley, New Jersey, Paterson, New Jersey and Chemung, Illinois, as well as working in the adult education program at the family's long-time church, Barrington United Methodist Church, in Barrington, Illinois. Billy worked with W. Clement Stone for many years as the Executive Director of the Stone Foundation and as a consultant who developed training programs for Combined Insurance Company. Billy's entrepreneurial spirit led him to do a great deal of consulting, maintain a private practice as a psychologist and found his own company, Sharp Concepts. He also served as an adjunct professor at several universities and was a Professor of Psychology and the Vice-President of Operations and Academic Affairs at The School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute. It was this last position which brought Billy and his wife to Springfield, Missouri. Billy chose to continue working in his "retirement". At the time of his death, he was employed by Ozark Counseling Services, where he provided counseling to the underserved. Over the years, Billy wrote numerous published articles and authored two books about goal setting, Choose Success, and Learning the Rhythm of Risk. Aside from assuring the well-being of his loved ones, Billy's greatest passion was learning. He was an avid reader and leaves behind a sizable personal library. He also enjoyed traveling. His journeys included trips to numerous European countries, Japan and Australia. Together with his wife, he enjoyed RV trips, including tours of Alaska and the Copper Canyon in Mexico. Billy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sibyl Komninos Sharp; and his children, Darrin J. Sharp and partner, Lesley Jowett of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Chryssa D. Sharp of St. Peters, Missouri, and Kendra V. Sharp and husband, David F. Hill of State College, Pennsylvania. Other survivors include two greatly adored granddaughters, Fiona Mae Hill, age 3 ½ years, and Tessa Rose Hill, age 19 months, of State College, Pennsylvania; and his beloved sister, Eloise S. Crockett of Spur, Texas. Visitation will be held in King's Way United Methodist Church, in the Meditation Chapel, between 6 and 8 p.m. on Monday, February 16, 2009. The memorial service, also at King's Way, will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. This will be followed by interment with military honors in the King's Way United Methodist Church Columbarium. King's Way is located at 2401 S. Lone Pine, Springfield, Missouri 65804. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Sanctuary Lighting Fund at King's Way United Methodist Church at the above address. Arrangements are under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel.