Sharon Kay Shipman Philbin

Sharon was born on September 6, 1938, to Charles and Ozelle Shipman in Cushing, Oklahoma. She grew up immersed in education by watching her mother teach countless children. Her athletic feats were focused on competitive water skiing.

Sharon graduated in the first class from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City in 1956. The University of Oklahoma conferred a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1960. In 1977, the University of Central Oklahoma (f/k/a Central State University) conferred a Masters in Education degree in Counseling Psychology. She continued her post-graduate studies in counseling psychology.

Sharon met Don, the love of her life, at the University of Oklahoma on a blind date hay ride. They attended multiple sorority (Gamma Phi Beta) and fraternity (Sigma Chi) events at OU. Sharon was an active member of her sorority including serving as sorority chaplain. Don and Sharon married on September 24, 1960 in Oklahoma City and were happily married for 54 years. They have three children - Donald Ray Philbin, Jr., Phillip Brett Philbin and Jennifer Philbin Vicente.

Sharon had a long career in education. She began by starting a preschool - Play and Learn - in Oklahoma City. Sharon and Don literally built the school from the ground up. Her strong work ethic and determination meant success was a given as there were no other options. After returning to school for post-graduate studies, her psychology studies provided her a myriad of opportunities for counseling from the inmates in the penitentiary in El Reno, Oklahoma to testing and counseling countless school children with learning disabilities in the Oklahoma City public schools. Her compassion, judgment, and intellect undoubtedly changed countless lives.

Sharon was an innovative educator throughout her life - from starting a preschool where she taught kindergarteners to play chess, to patenting the design of a board game (United States Design Patent 200,241), to creating a multi-base number game (United States Copyright A 716395), to helping teach her six grandchildren to read, Sharon never stopped educating or innovating.

Her church home was Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City where she was an active member for over 30 years and served as an elder. She spent countless hours serving on the board of directors at Westminster Day School for over 20 years.

While Sharon was a loving wife and caring mother, she would proudly admit to not being the best cook. She was an avid game player. From bridge to mahjong, she was always up for a game. Her strong will and rigid determination meant she always got lots of "things done." She was willing to sacrifice of herself for the benefit of others. She will be missed.

Sharon is survived by her husband Don, son Don Jr. and his wife Micki Philbin and their daughter Mary Katherine Philbin; son Phillip and his wife Holly Philbin and their sons Charles Phillip Philbin, Luke Holland Philbin, and Mark Donald Philbin; daughter Jennifer and her husband Sean Vicente and their children Michael Tristan Vicente and Sydney Grace Vicente.

Sharon was preceded in death by her mother Ozelle Nadine Jordan, her father Charles Warren Shipman, and her grandson Donald Ray Philbin III.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to Trinity University in San Antonio or Westminster Day School in Oklahoma City.