Jean (Givens) SHARP

GIVENS, SHARP, BOTTUM, LAWRENCE, SNUSTAD, IRELAND

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/26/2013 at 19:03:11

September 10, 1917 --- December 7, 2013

Jean Givens Sharp died on Dec. 7, 2013, at the age of 96 at The Midland King's Daughters Home, where she had resided since 2001. Jean was the daughter of William Paul and Fannie Crawford (Bottum) Givens, born 10 September 1917, in Goldfield, Iowa. She graduated magna cum laude from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. in 1938. Following graduation, Jean moved to New York City where she was a teacher at The New York School for the Blind in the Bronx. A resident of Midland since 1940, Jean worked at the Midland Public and Grace A. Dow Memorial Libraries and for many years as the librarian at Northeast Intermediate School, retiring in 1979. Jean belonged to a multitude of clubs and organizations: Bridge Club, Midland Little Theatre Guild, AAUW, 20th Century Club, and other civic organizations. She sang in the choir of St. John's Episcopal Church for many years and more recently was a member of the United Church of Christ. Jean was a clever cook and wonderful hostess. She enjoyed books, poetry, theater, music, mushrooming, hiking, cross-country skiing, entertaining, travelling and visiting. Jean was married to Mahlon E. (Ripp) Sharp in 1940, a marriage that lasted 51 years until his death in 1992. She is survived by her three daughters, Virginia Sharp Lawrence of Albuquerque, N.M., Wendy Sharp of New York, N.Y. and Laurel Sharp of Syracuse, N.Y. She is also survived by five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her brother, Joe Givens of Minneapolis, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jean was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Givens Snustad and D. Virginia Givens Ireland; and a brother, Hugh Givens. A memorial service is being planned for late spring. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Directors.

Midland Daily News - Midland, Michigan
December 20, 2013