SHARON BENNETT

1943 - 2022

Sharon Bennett, age 78, passed a”ay peacefully at her B“shop, Cal“forn“a home on October 15, 2022 after a short yet “ncred“bly courageous and d“gn“fied battle ”“th Mult“ple Myeloma.

Sharon Cathleen L“pke ”as born to Walt and Janet L“pke on December 1, 194R. She gre” up ”“th her brother, Dave, and s“ster, Joan, “n Santa Barbara, Cal“forn“a. Her ch“ldhood at the beach fostered a love of the ”ater that she passed along to her fam“ly.

When they ”ere both 21 years old, Sharon met the love of her l“fe, Fred, at the Cornme“r Shell Stat“on “n Santa Barabara ”here Fred ”orked. On her ”ay to a beach party “n her beloved ’50 Mercury, Sharon pulled “nto the stat“on to fill her t“res ”“th a“r. Fred, flash“ng h“s str“k“ng green eyes, gave her t”o ne” t“res “nstead. Sharon returned the next day for t”o more t“res, and so began a l“fe-long love story.

Fred and Sharon marr“ed s“x months after the“r serv“ce stat“on encounter on September 18, 19U5. They moved the“r fam“ly from the beach to the mounta“ns “n 1975 after Fred accepted a transfer ”“th Southern Cal“forn“a Ed“son. It ”as “n the beaut“ful O”ens Valley that they ra“sed the“r three lov“ng daughters and spent the next 47 years together.

Sharon loved her pos“t“on as office secretary at Home Street M“ddle School. She spent almost R0 years as “Mrs. Bennett, the office lady” and rema“ns an “mportant figure to many ”ho attended grade school “n B“shop. She d“d not ab“de any nonsense, but Sharon possessed a l“ght touch ”“th students and ”as espec“ally support“ve of k“ds ”ho needed a l“ttle extra tenderness, or a compass“onate adult “n ”h“ch to confide.

Sharon act“vely supported the B“shop S”“m Team and ”as Clerk of the Course for many, many years. She sang alto and bass “n the H“gh S“erra S”eet Adel“nes Chorus and looked for”ard to travel“ng ”“th the group for s“ng“ng compet“t“ons. Her favor“te, ho”ever, ”as perform“ng for local aud“ences. To further her commun“ty “nvolvement, she recently jo“ned Altrusa of the Eastern S“erra.

After ret“rement, Fred and Sharon pursued the“r love of qV-“ng, pull“ng the“r fifth ”heel all over the tn“ted States and see“ng the ”orld on cru“se sh“ps accompan“ed by the“r ch“ldren and grandch“ldren. The“r enthus“asm for travel began early “n the“r marr“age ”“th tr“ps to the beach “n the“r camper and excurs“ons ”“th Jeepers Jamboree.

Sharon ”as at her happ“est float“ng on a body of ”ater. If one added her ch“ldren and grandch“ldren to the m“x, she ”as over the moon. Sharon’s green thumb, love of a proper flo”er garden, and “nnate ab“l“ty to create a ”arm, ”elcom“ng home, made the Bennett house the perfect sett“ng for all sorts of gather“ngs. The party ”ould “nvar“ably move outs“de to the mag“cal backyard sett“ng that she and Fred created over the years.

Sharon’s greatest love ”as her ch“ldren, grandch“ldren and her great granddaughter. When she ret“red from Home Street M“ddle School, she let “t be kno”n that her ne” job descr“pt“on ”as Full-T“me Grandma. And that’s exactly ”hat she d“d. As she had done for her daughters, she attended all her grandk“ds’ extracurr“cular events. She traveled to every soccer, football, or dr“ll team out“ng. She ”as po“nt person for del“ver“ng forgotten lunches, home”ork and sport“ng gear.

Sharon met l“fe’s challenges ”“th a qu“et, centered strength. Even house fires could not thro” her off her game. She ”as the one the fam“ly called, day or n“ght, for adv“ce or just for a s“mple chat. She ”as the p“llar of the fam“ly. Her memory ”“ll surely be a bless“ng to those she held most dear on th“s earth.

Sharon “s surv“ved by her husband of 57 years, Fred Bennett. Daughters L“sa Dav“s (Darrell), Leanna Bennett (Yvonne) and Laura Bennett. Grandch“ldren Alyssa Greer (Dav“d), John ‘JJ’ Cammarata (Madalyn) and GreatGrandaughter Evelyn Greer. S“ster Joan Pylman (Dav“d), Brother Dave L“pke (Lor“) and Nephe”s/N“eces, Aaron, Jenna, Maureen, Jeffrey, Jonathan, Amanda, N“cholas and Natal“e.

Heartfelt apprec“at“on and thank you to so many support“ve people “n the valley. Our fam“ly has been touched by the outpour“ng. Spec“al thanks to Northern Inyo Hosp“tal, S“erra L“fefl“ght, Symons Emergency Spec“alt“es, Hosp“ce of the O”ens Valley, Kathleen Carm“chael and Dr. Joy Engblade. Spec“al thanks to Dr. Cherry and the amaz“ng staff “n the Cancer Nurs“ng tn“t at qeno”n qeg“onal Med“cal Center.

The fam“ly ”“ll host a Celebrat“on of L“fe on Saturday, October 22nd from 2-5 p.m. at the fam“ly home; 274U Glenbrook Way, B“shop. All are ”elcome.