Sharon Lavon Langley

Sharon Lavon Langley, age 82, passed away in Loveland, Colorado, on May 14, 2025, after a short hospitalization with a brief but serious illness. Sharon was born in E. St. Louis, Illinois, on January 28, 1943, to Vernon and Madonna (Miller) Brown.

In 1963 she married Reuben Wirch of Carstairs, Alberta, Canada, and they subsequently had three children together: Tony Warren Wirch, Lavon Marie Katherine (Wirch) Peters, and Kimberley Sue Wirch.

Sharon was preceded in death by her son Warren, her parents, her former husband Reuben, and her sister Lynn. She is survived by Warren’s son Bruce (Wirch) Isabel, his wife Kristen, and their four children (Rowan, Ella, Vaylen, and Oakin), of Manitoba, Canada; Lavon and her three children (Alison, Sarah, and Bradley), of Loveland, Colorado; and Kimberley and her daughter (Jade), of St. Louis, Missouri. She is also survived by her brother Tony Jones and his wife Jane of Ellery, Illinois, as well as their children and grandchildren.

During Sharon’s marriage to Reuben, they moved back and forth multiple times between southern Illinois and Alberta, Canada. After their divorce, Sharon returned to southern Illinois with her daughters. She held many administrative jobs throughout her life, but the job she talked about the most was as a USPS letter carrier. Unfortunately she was the victim of a life-altering motor-vehicle accident while working for the USPS, and she suffered from a multitude of health issues after that incident. Sharon was an active member of the Meadowbrook (Illinois) Church of God (which later became Lifebrook Church). She was a friend to all, and she gave her time tirelessly to her church, her friends, and her family. She was an active church volunteer and served as church secretary for a number of years. She was always willing to give rides to friends and neighbors, whether to church, medical appointments, or the St. Louis airport. She helped care for both her aunt and her sister when they each moved into long-term care facilities, and she was a regular caregiver to her granddaughter Jade for several years. In August 2022, Sharon moved to Loveland, Colorado, to live with her daughter Lavon in her declining years. She suffered a series of health setbacks beginning in December 2024, and she moved to Brookdale Assisted Living in Loveland in April 2025. Sharon never met a stranger, and she loved to tell stories about her life and her experiences. She made friends wherever she went, including during her short time in assisted living.

Sharon lived a full life and touched many people. She will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her. In lieu of any funeral services, Sharon will be cremated in Loveland, Colorado, and interred at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights, Illinois; the family will hold a private service at a later date.