Sharon Irene Johnson

Sharon Irene (née Fairchild) Johnson, 82, died at home, Friday, with family at her bedside after a lengthy illness. She was born in Louisa, Kentucky to the late Scott Oakland Fairchild and Mary Maxine (née Caudill) Fairchild Lake. She graduated from Laketon High School, Ind. She worked as a General Telephone switchboard operator in North Manchester, Ind. following high school; and married her husband, Gary L. Johnson, of Larwill, Ind. nearly 62 years ago. She traveled with Gary to his Air Force duty station in Clovis, N.M. where they lived for three years before returning to northeast Indiana. Sharon also worked at Haag Drugs, and then enjoyed a long career, mostly in fine jewelry sales, at Glenbrook Square, Fort Wayne, becoming a familiar friendly face inspiring smiles for her coworkers and customers at Sears, JCPenney, Hudson's, and Armstrong Jewelers. While she and Gary raised their three children, son Shannon (Filiberto) Johnson of Indianapolis, Ind. and daughters Robin Lester (Michael) of Fort Wayne, and Angela (John), she was active in PTA as a frequent committee member and in a term as PTA president. Sharon was an avid folk art painter repurposing and upcycling found and secondhand items with whimsical country style paintings that often included uplifting and light words and phrases to accompany the images she painted. She also enjoyed years of league bowling; and served for several years as a Police Athletic League (PAL) youth bowling coach at Hillcrest and Northcrest bowling centers. In addition to being survived by her husband and three children; Sharon is also survived by sister Kay (Jack) Bonner of Fletcher, N.C., Mark (Diana) Fairchild of Lewisville, Texas, and Scott Fairchild, Jr. of Arcola. Ind. She was preceded in death by brother Dennis Fairchild, KIA in the Vietnam war. Twelve grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren also survive and will remember being a focus of her love, pride, and encouragement. Committal Service is 11:00 am on Saturday, April 22 at Highland Park Cemetery, 2403 E Wallen Road, Fort Wayne, Ind. A Memorial Gathering will occur at 11:00 am on Sunday, May 14 at Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Rd, Fort Wayne, Ind. Memorial Contributions may be directed to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047 or Parkview Home Health & Hospice.