Sharon D. Walbridge

Sharon Lee Dahlstrom Walbridge , 71, formerly of Woodville, Va., now of Maplewood Village, Rome, passed away at a local hospital on Saturday evening, April 30, 2011 from complications related to acute leukemia.

She was born Jan. 13, 1940 in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of William Dahlstrom and Alice Kammer Dahlstrom. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Lt. Commander Clarke B. Walbridge, who died in March 1976.

Mrs. Walbridge graduated from Rome High in 1958. She attended Shorter College and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1962. She attended University of Virginia where she earned a Masters degree in French. She taught in the Fairfax County School District for 15 years and then relocated to the Woodville, Virginia area in Rappahannook County, Virginia to be near the mountains. Having a great love of antiques and unique items, Mrs. Walbridge was most recently an associate in an antique shop in Virginia. She was an avid animal lover and defender of wildlife. She relocated to the Rome area in April, 2011 to spend time with her family.

She is survived by her sisters, Sally Rudert (Robert) of Rome and Jane Hagge (Grant) of Rome and her brother, James Dahlstrom of Eugene, Oregon. She is also survived by nieces, great nephews and great nieces: Gina Dahlstrom Gross (Les), Justin and Julia Gross, Brannin Dahlstrom Dorsey (Tom), William Dorsey, Eden Dahlstrom Kenny (Sean), Ransom and Zephyr Kenny, Katherine Hagge Jenkins (Mark), Sally Hagge Bailey (John), Alexander Hagge Bailey, Alice Hagge, Holly McHaggee (Chris), and Iris McHaggee, and many loving friends.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Defenders of Wildlife, P. O. Box 1553, Merrifield, VA 22116-1553, the Audubon Society, 225 Varick St., New York, NY 10014 or The Wilderness Society, Membership Services, 1615 M St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.

A memorial service will be Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at 4 p.m. at the Griffin Memorial Chapel of Daniel’s Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Caywood officiating. The family will receive friends following the memorial service. An interment will be held prior to the memorial service at East View Cemetery.