Rubylin Sharp

She was the daughter of Earl Hampton Slaughter and Ruby Beatrice Lindsey Slaughter of McKinney, Texas. She was their only child.

Rubylin’s education began at North Ward Elementary School in McKinney, Texas (later known as Greer and Act Academy). While attending North Ward, she learned to knit. The students knitted 6 by 6 inch squares to be made into blankets for the soldiers fighting in WWII.

As a child, Rubylin also learned to play the piano and frequently participated in piano competitions in North Texas. Unfortunately, she typically came in second, beaten only by Van Cliburn!

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of McKinney, Texas, throughout her childhood.

Rubylin did not learn to swim as a child due to the polio epidemic.

While in High school, she was a majorette and participated in numerous other student organizations. She was also voted prom queen her senior year. Homemaking was her favorite class. During these years, Rubylin played the piano and organ to accompany church services at several local churches. She graduated from McKinney High School in 1948.

Rubylin then attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music, followed by a Master’s degree in Education. While at SMU, she was a member of Delta Gama and Pan Hellenic, holding various offices, including Presidency, of each association. During her term as President of Delta Gamma, she participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the then-new sorority house. She also learned to swim while at SMU.

After graduating, Rubylin worked in the public education system for several school districts in Texas, as both a classroom teacher and counselor.

On August 15, 1958, Rubylin married William Wheeler Sharp in Dallas, Texas. She continued working as a school counselor for the next 2 years. Thereafter, she became a homemaker.

In c. 1962, Rubylin and her family moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, living there until 1977 when they returned to Dallas, Texas. She remained in Dallas, Texas, until her death.

Rubylin enjoyed participating in a variety of activities throughout her life, including homemaking, sewing, knitting (especially afgans), cooking, playing the piano, reading (especially the Dallas Morning News and the Upper Room), playing word search games, swimming, and gardening.

While in Lafayette, Louisiana, she was a member of Asbury Methodist Church, where she directed and accompanied children’s choirs and volunteered with the church’s food pantry. Additionally, she led the 2 year old Sunday School class for several years. She also led Girl Scout Troops for Brownies and Junior Scouts. She was active in the Hamilton Elementary School PTA, holding various offices, including President. She was a member of the Towne House Club and Oak Bourne Country Club.

After her return to Dallas, Rubylin was a member of Lovers Lane Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Dallas Ballet Women’s Committee, where she assisted with preparation and refreshment for regular meetings, and in the organization of the annual Irish Fair it sponsored at North Park, as well as other fundraising activities. Rubylin was also active in the Highland Cemetery Association, holding various offices on its Board for many years. She participated in swimming and water exercise classes at CVC multiple times a week. She belonged to various book clubs. And she enjoyed attending the ballet, opera and symphony performances. She remained active in the Delta Gamma Alumni Association.

Rubylin loved to knit afgans, and would often give them as gifts to others. She also was an accomplished seamstress, her creations including clothes, drapery, bedspreads, and dust ruffles, and even re upholstering furniture.

She regularly attended her grandchildren’s school events, performances, and sporting events. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, including splashing in her pool and helping them learn to swim, reading stories, playing children’s songs on the piano, and taking them shopping or for ice cream or to dinner at Luby’s cafeteria. Her chili won first prize at the BlueCrossBlueShield annual Chili Cookoff in 1989 (which she entered at the request of her son in law, who forgot to bring his own pot of Chili that morning). She loved to play Sleigh Ride on the piano during the holiday season. Her gardening activities included cultivating a large tomato and green onion garden each summer, along with various types of fruit trees and numerous varieties of potted plants.

Rubylin was preceded in death by her husband, William Sharp. She is survived by: daughter Kimberly Sharp of Dallas, Texas, daughter Staci Johnson of McKinney, Texas, son in law Byron Johnson of McKinney, Texas, granddaughter Mollie Johnson of Galveston, Texas, and grandson Samuel Johnson of McKinney, Texas.