Kathleen J. Sharp, 100, of Mulberry Road, Lakeville, IN. died on Sunday, July 11, in her residence.
She was born in Louisville, KY, on February 26, 1921 to Elizabeth Ansbro and John William James, who both preceded her in death. She had been a South Bend and Lakeville area resident since 1951, coming here from Virginia, MN.
On June 30, 1944, in Louisville, KY, she married Merle C. Sharp, M.D., who preceded her in death in 1998. She is survived by three sons, Merle C. (Leann) Sharp, Jr., of Dakin, NE, Christopher J. Sharp, of Lakeville, and Timothy P. Sharp, of South Bend. She was preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey A. Sharp, in 2006 (Survived by Anne C. (Blaisdell) Sharp of Indianapolis, IN. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Elizabeth James, of Louisville, KY, and two brothers, Joseph H. James of Louisville, KY and John W. James of Sun City, AZ.
Kathleen’s first job was at the U.S. Public Health Service (Marine) Hospital in Louisville, where she first met her husband, Merle. She graduated in 1942 from Nazareth School of Nursing at St. Mary’s and Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, KY. She worked as a RN at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, then at University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA before moving to Virginia, MN, where they lived for 2 ½ years. In 1951, Merle and Kathleen moved to South Bend, where Merle began his private OB/GYN practice, as one of the founding members of OB/GYN Associates of Northern Indiana.
Once in South Bend, Kathleen retired from nursing to raise her family, but continued to utilize her skills for many years as a blood drive volunteer with the American Red Cross; and even to administer daily injections to her son as recently as two weeks before her passing.
Kathleen will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. In keeping with Kathleen’s wishes, her family will be gathering privately. Cremation has been entrusted to Palmer Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be left for the Sharp family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
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