Ruth Sharp's Obituary
Ruth Janet Sharp of Dupont, WA, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and daughter was called home to Jesus on July 10th, 2020 surrounded by her family. Ruth was born April 6th,1936 to Marion and Mary Mabel (McCormick) Stevens in Portland, Oregon. She lived the majority of her young life in the Portland area, except for a two-year time period when she was eight, she lived in Costa Rica and Guatemala when her father, a Road Engineer for the US Bureau of Roads, worked on the PanAmerican highway. After returning to the Portland area, she completed her schooling through her Junior year of high school, then moved with her family to the Olympia area, where she graduated from William Winlock Miller High School (Olympia High School) in 1954.
While traveling on a Greyhound bus to Portland to visit family, she met her beloved husband Dave, and they were married later that year on Sept. 4, 1954 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Portland. After a two-year separation while Dave was stationed in Japan, they started their adventure as a career military family having three children, Tim, Tammi, and Tom, along the way.
When the family returned to Lakewood, Ruth received her Associate in Liberal Arts degree from Tacoma Community College in June 1974 and then earned her Bachelor of Science - Administration degree from City University in June of 1978. Ruth worked in various positions at Ft Lewis with the last position as a Contract Specialist for the Western Region Commissary Division. Ruth enjoyed volunteering at the Family Services Office and received many awards and recognitions for her hours and years of service. During their 21 years as a military family, they traveled throughout Italy, Switzerland, Austria, German, France, Monaco, and Spain.
After retirement, Ruth continued to travel including visiting Machu Pichu, Peru with her son Tom in 2004 and revisiting their life in Italy with her daughter Tammi in 2016. She also continued her passion in volunteering at the Retirees Activities Office on McChord AFB until her death.
She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and would attend almost all of their school and sporting events always cheering from the stands. She always put her family first and anyone that knew her thought the world of her and described her as the sweetest, selfless, and fun-loving person they had ever met. She will be missed terribly by her family as well as her friends, and fellow volunteers. Ruth had seven grandchildren: Michael, Kari, Jason, Daniel, Kaci, Samuel, and Morgan; three step grandchildren: Jhoanna, Bryan, and Ricky; eight great grandchildren Caden, Nolan, Gaige, Kinsey, Kiara, Aalyah, Ashlinn, and Lonell, all who loved her very much.
She is also survived by her sister Marilyn Taylor and brother-in-law Bob Taylor, brother-in-law Dan Johnson, sister-in-law Carmen Sharp; and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth will be laid to rest with her beloved husband, Dave, on July 30 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Those wishing to make donations in Ruth's honor are requested to consider Fisher House and Wounded Warriors. Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home, Lakewood, WA 253-584-0252
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