Eula Mae Underwood Sharp

AIKEN - Eula Mae Underwood Sharp of Marlinton, West Virginia, died January 5, 2012 at the home of her daughter Rachel, in Aiken, South Carolina after several years of declining health. Born March 17, 1931 in Greenbrier County, WV, she was the daughter of Delmar Guy Underwood and Mary Emily North Underwood. She was married to Austin McCoy Sharp on December 17, 1948. She attended Hillsboro High School and worked for several years as a nurse’s aide at Denmar State Hospital. She was a long-time member of Stony Creek Presbyterian church and after its closure was one of the earliest members of the Mountain View Assembly Church of God. Eula was an avid gardener; very active with arts, crafts, crocheting and quilting; and followed sporting activities of her children and grandchildren with great zest. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and was also an adopted mother/grandmother figure to many other children over the years. Her love was endless, and she always had plenty of care, concern and compassion for all the persons in her life. Besides her family, friends, and church, the great joys of her later years were great-grandchildren, gospel music and her flower gardens full of gladioli. These gladioli’s became her ministry of God’s Grace as each spring she would place the first gladioli in bloom on her husband’s grave, and then spend several weeks delivering flower bouquets to those in the community who needed cheer and a kind word. Eula is survived by all seven of her children including her oldest son, Paul Warwick Sharp of Marlinton, who was a primary caretaker for the past several years. Other children are Elvina Darlene Nau of Columbia, SC; Vivian Reed Biggs of Marlinton, WV ; Gary Wayne Sharp of Caldwell, WV; Randy Allen Sharp of Marlinton, WV; Rebecca Ann Sharp of Lexington, SC and Mary Rachel Sharp of Aiken, SC. Eight grandchildren: Rhonda Lee VanMeter Adams, Diana VanMeter Cunningham, Jason Nau, Brian Reed, David Reed, Jason Sharp, Amanda Sharp, and Steven Hunter Sharp. Sixteen great-grandchildren: Erin, Megan, Matthew, Nathan, Elena, Jack Austin, Ethan, Sydney, Elijah, Austin Wayne, Levi, Jacob, David Hanson, Kathryn Mae, Jagger and Colton; with an additional great-grandson “on the way”. She is also survived by four sisters: Lula Nelson, Orange CA; Mildred Sharp, Berkeley Springs, WV; Bernice Johnston of Lewisburg, WV; and Norma Burke of Berkeley Springs, WV. Several step-grand and great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, cousins and others who call her” Grandma” also mourn her loss. Her parents Delmar & Mary Underwood; her husband of 52 years, Austin Sharp, one sister Ethel Sipes, and one brother Charles Underwood predecease her. A memorial service will be held Monday, January 9 at 12:00 pm at Shellhouse Funeral Home in Aiken, SC. The family will receive friends one hour before the funeral at 11:00 am. Following services in South Carolina, the family will return to West Virginia where there will be a family visitation at VanReenen Funeral Home, 207 Ninth Street, Marlinton, WV on Tuesday, January 10 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2:00 pm at the Mountain View Assembly of God on Elk Mountain with burial at the Sharp Family Cemetery on Jerico Road. Our mother supported many charities and would suggest you make memorial donations to your chosen charity with in memoriam acknowledgements to the family received at 1214 Aldrich Street, Aiken, SC 29801. Mrs. Sharp's online guest book may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eula Mae Underwood Sharp, please visit our flower store.