Donald Deane Sharp

Don's mother died when he was nine years old. He spent his teen yearsin Alhambra and graduated from Alhambra High School. Went on toPasadena Junior College, now Pasadena City College. He married Ruthin July 1941. Worked int he oil industry as did his brother Bob. Hemoved to Taft where he worked for Axelson Engineering, an oil fieldcompany, keeping the oil flowing for the war effort. Moved to SanMarino and lived near sister Connie. He remained in the oil industryby working in and then buying his own service stations in Pasadena,Rosemead and ultimately Vista near his brother Bob. Always interestedin cars and tinkered with hot rods. Eventually he started selling afew cars on his service side lot and a neighboring Packard dealerasked him to help unload a couple of funny-looking foreign cars he hadgotten stuck with. Don was so enthusiastic about these strange, bugshaped critters that he developed a loyal clientele for them at thenearby Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital. He took a big risk and openedone of the first Volkswagen/Porsche dealerships in San Diego Co. in1958. Timing and enthusiasm was right and the rest is history. Hepurchased his own land and built his new Oceanside dealership in 1964. He sold BMW, Triumph, MG, Austin Healey and Borgwards through 1965 ata satellite dealership in Vista. He was instrumental in opening oneof the first auto malls in Carlsbad, where he had his VW dealershipand subsequent Audi and Porsche franchise.

He was active in civic affairs and in local Vista government and thebusiness sector, including officership in the Chamber of Commerce. Hewas elected to the Vista School Board where he served four years andwas President. He donated vehicles to local driver's ed programs fromhis dealerships. He became an avid golfer at retirement in Lake SanMarcos and his winter home in Palm Desert. He and wife Ruthietraveled extensively and spent lots of time with their children.