Elaine Kathryn Sharp

Elaine K. Sharp finally lost her long, valiant and often difficult battle with several illnesses, lung cancer and dementia. She died one week short of her sixty-third wedding anniversary. She was born in Philadelphia in 1931 to Betty and Walter Paine, but was raised almost from infancy by her maternal aunt and uncle, Kathryn and Horace Hoerr, whom she always called “Mother” and “Dad”. After high school, Elaine went to Pierce Business College, and then worked in several posts in the Philadelphia court system. She was also administrative assistant to the city’s Chief of Water Operations. In 1954, she married Hugh T. Sharp, moved to northern New Jersey and began working in publishing at McGraw-Hill in New York City. She left to start a family and raise her son, Thomas, who gave her enormous pride and much joy. When he was finishing high school, Elaine went back into publishing as president of Manufacturers’ Agent Publishing Company, a publisher of directories. When a much larger publisher acquired her company, she served as a consultant to their editorial operations for several years. Elaine was a voracious reader, and she and her husband were avid travelers. They took many trips to Europe – from the old USSR to Iceland and most of the rest of the continent. They also traveled to Japan, China and Australia over the years. Elaine was preceded in death by all of her family, including her brother, Walter Paine, Jr. However, she had many, many friends who were attracted by her engaging smile, ready wit, and loving and giving manner. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Elaine’s ashes will be inurned in the columbarium at St. Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, on Monday, April 24 at 10:00 am. The ceremony will be conducted by Senior Pastor Bill Harman of King of Glory Lutheran Church. Thanks to the staffs of the Clare Bridge unit of Brookdale Williamsburg and Kindred Hospice for their kind and loving care of Elaine in her final months. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607, or King of Glory Lutheran Church, 4897 Longhill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188. Arrangements under the direction of Nelsen Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA.