Martha Sharp Sharrock

Martha Magdalene Sharp Sharrock died April 20, 2012, in Oklahoma City at the age of 94. She was born September 20, 1917 in Winthrop, Arkansas. Third of nine surviving children born to Rev. Thomas Barnabus Sharp and Lucy Cordelia Schlup Sharp, she spent her early life assisting in the care of her siblings, enduring many Depression hardships that would influence her entire life. Martha graduated from Winthrop High School in 1935 as Class Valedictorian, the second in her family to earn a high school diploma. She moved to Oklahoma City and worked as a live-in housekeeper and nanny. A chance conversation led her to enroll in college at Magnolia, Arkansas A & M in 1937, where she funded her education through campus-related jobs. Associate Degree in hand, she returned home to teach at Winthrop High School. She later enrolled at Oklahoma A & M and graduated with a BS in Home Economics in 1943. During WWII, she served as a Head Teacher in Kaiser Shipyards Nursery School in Portland, Oregon, where she supervised the early childhood education of children of Rosie-the-Riveter mothers. After the war, Martha returned to Stillwater, met James Sharrock on a blind date, and married in August 1946. She completed her Masters in Family Relations and Child Development and headed the Oklahoma A & M Nursery School Program for many years, becoming an Associate Professor in the School of Home Economics. Mrs. Sharrock retired from Oklahoma State University in 1964 to focus on her family and her husband's growing farming operation. James engaged in farming in northern Oklahoma. The family moved from Stillwater to Ponca City in June 1961 to be closer to James' farming operation. James had a similar Depression era background and a degree in Agricultural Economics. Together they expanded their farming operation from a single trailer with an initial crop valued at $75 to a two-county multi-crop operation involving over 2000 acres. Martha's specialty was feeding harvest crews in grand fashion while the combines and trucks never stopped. James' uncle Charley tasted one of Martha's cakes at a family reunion and proclaimed to the crowd that James had married "one darned fine cook." Martha was a lifelong member of Community of Christ church. She was an active community volunteer and member of the Ponca City Country Club, AAUW, Wall Street Ladies, and garden club. She made many special friends at the bridge table and became a self-taught expert. She spent years researching and documenting her genealogy and left a rich family history for others to enjoy. She hosted family trips and traveled the world. Over 30 years ago, she foretold the explosive Chinese economy, saying after visiting China,"If they ever get a combine, we're in trouble." In 2001 she moved to Epworth Villa retirement community in Oklahoma City, where a new phase of her life began. With old friends from Ponca City, new bridge partners, and other residents with interesting life stories, she thrived at Epworth for many more years. The family gives its thanks to the Epworth residents and staff who enriched the final years of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1977; her parents; brothers Roy, T. B., Emmit, and Raymond Sharp; and sisters Mary Morgan, Lucille Morgan, Beatrice Scarborough, and Erma Wright. She is survived by her son Jim Sharrock and wife Nancy of Oklahoma City; daughter Joann White and husband Fowler of Sanford, FL; daughter Jane Sharrock of Oklahoma City; grandchildren and their spouses David and Kersten Sharrock of Idaho Springs, CO; Lindsay and Clint Wenk, and Collin and Emilia White of Austin, TX; Hilary White of Sanford, FL; great granddaughters Mallory, Hadley, and Shelby Wenk; her sister Shirley Morgan and husband Jack of San Antonio, TX; numerous nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends Martha Biard and Jeanne Graybill. A memorial service will be held at the Brill Chapel at Epworth Villa, 14901 N. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 25, 2012, followed by graveside services at Odd Fellows Cemetery, 1040 S. Waverly, Ponca City, Oklahoma, at 3:00 PM. Services will be under the direction of Smith & Kernke Funeral Homes & Crematory with Martha's son-in-law, Dr. Fowler White, officiating. The family will receive visitors Tuesday, April 24, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Smith & Kernke, 14624 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, and in recognition of the opportunities and positive changes that education brought to Martha's life, contributions may be made the OSU Foundation, Stillwater, OK, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749, or see http://osugiving.com/.