Biography: Lt. Col. Eduard L. Scharff, Sr., retired, of Little Rock, died March 20, 2009. Mr. Scharff, known to his friends and family as E.L., was born in Houston, Texas to the late Lynton L. and Grace Block Scharff. Upon graduation from Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tennessee he married Bette C. Terry of Columbia, before entering the U.S. Army during World War II. After completion of Officer’s Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia he saw action as an infantry platoon leader in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands. He received the Purple Heart after being wounded on the island of Luzon. After his recovery he returned to Little Rock where he joined Little Rock Builders, Inc., as a contractor in residential construction. He learned to fly and joined his father, who was also a pilot, on trips around the state. At the beginning of the Korean Conflict, E.L. was recalled to duty as a Captain in the Corp of Engineers building airfields in Korea. Upon his return to the States he continued his military career being stationed with the Corp of Engineers at Camp Walters in Mineral Wells, Texas. In 1955 he was reassigned to Germany for three years where he became Company Commander of 502 Float Bridge Company. In 1958 he returned to the States where he was stationed in Nashville, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia before being sent to Okinawa, Japan. In 1963, on his return from duty in Japan, E.L. was assigned Commander of the Little Rock Sub-Sector, U.S. Army Reserves. In 1967, as a Lt. Col. he saw a one year tour of duty in Vietnam as a part of MACV, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. After Vietnam he was made Deputy District Engineer with the Corp of Engineers in Little Rock, working on the final stages of construction of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. E.L. received two Legions of Merit awards. Lt. Col. Scharff retired after 25 years of active duty in 1968. Following retirement, E.L. became Vice President of Production for Ouachita Marine in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He went on to purchase and operate Albert Pike Marine in Hot Springs, Arkansas. E.L. was an avid fisherman as well as a bird hunter. He closed the business in 1986 and retired for the second time in Little Rock where he remained active being member of the board of directors of LifeQuest of Arkansas, active member of Temple B’Nai Israel, and attended the Arkansas Symphony as often as possible. E.L. enjoyed playing tennis with his friends, was a Razorback fan and a bigger fan of his grandson’s soccer games. E.L. is pre-deceased by his wife Bette C. Terry, who died while they were stationed in Japan, and a sister Jean Ghertner. He is survived by three children; Eddy Scharff and wife Lizabeth of Memphis, Tennessee, Terry Shipley and husband Paul of Charlotte, North Carolina, David Scharff and Kathy of Little Rock, one sister Faylese Gruber of Memphis, 4 grandchildren; Amber Mock, Ted Scharff, Max Shipley, and Hayden Scharff, and 2 great-grandchildren; Sara Mock, and Anna Grace Mock. He also is survived by his dearest friend Raida Snyderman of Little Rock. The family would like to convey their love and appreciation to the Doctors and staff of St. Vincent Infirmary and Arkansas Hospice for their love and care given to Eduard. There will be a memorial funeral service held Thursday, March 26 at 10:00AM At Temple B’Nai Israel officiated by Rabbi Jean Levy. Urn burial will follow at Little Rock National Cemetery with military honors. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com Memorials in lieu of flowers should be sent to LifeQuest of Arkansas 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72227 or Arkansas Hospice, 5600 West 12th Street, Little Rock 72204.
Ed and Bette Scharff were our neighbors on Okinawa in the 1960's. Ed shared an office with me in Headquarters, IX Corps. Our commander was LT General Paul W. Caraway, a native of Arkansas. We went on maneuvers to the Philippines in February 1962, and on maneuvers to Thailand in April 1962. It was a great shock to all when Bette passed away. A visit was made with Ed in the 1980's when he had his business at Hot Springs. In the last couple of years, Ed and I exchanged e-mails, telephone calls, old photos and recent photos. Unfortunately, the last time I saw any of the children was in 1963. Ed Scharff was not only an outstanding military officer, but he was an outstanding man at the same time. My wife, Alyce, and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the family.
Lacy Clayton Barnett
abarnett@globalsite.net