Sharon B. Tuggle

Sharon Bush Tuggle passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 2, 2023. Sharon was born in Evansville on July 19, 1936. She was the daughter of Roberta Catherine Anders and Leslie St. Clair Bush. Sharon's first love and her career was teaching. She was also an active community volunteer, but teaching was always her passion.

Salutatorian of the Central High School Centennial class of 1954, she graduated cum laude from Indiana University in 1958 with and AB in English. Sharon returned to Central for her first two years of teaching, after which she earned a Master's degree in English from Indiana University. Sharon was the recipient of several scholarships as an undergraduate and served as Head Counsellor at Smithwood Hall during her graduate study. In total, she accumulated 110 English credit hours. For the next four years she taught Honors classes at North Central High School in Indianapolis, where she initiated a literature/philosophy class for the top 15 seniors and conducted a summer reading seminar for college-bound students. She then spent the next 6 years at nationally-recognized New Trier in Evanston, Illinois. While there she was honored as a Master Teacher.

Sharon returned to Evansville to marry Dennis Moore Tuggle. After teaching briefly at Harrison, she transferred to Reitz High School where she served as Chair of the English Department and as Coach of the Academic Olympics team. Sharon also chaired numerous city-wide curriculum programs and initiated the first English Advanced Placement (AP) class in the city. She was named Reading Teacher of the Year, Who is Who Among American Educators, and was recognized by Indiana All-Stars as an Outstanding Teacher.

Sharon loved teaching and was blessed to have taught outstanding student-scholars during her 37 year teaching career. It is a testament to her outstanding teaching ability and the way she connected with those whom she taught that she remained in contact with many of her former students, now her friends, many years after they had graduated. Recently, former students honored her with a meditation bench and plaque on the Indiana University campus near Ballentine Hall. This was an honor that Sharon always cherished. Above all, she appreciated and treasured the fact that it was her students who were responsible for it.

Following her retirement in 1995, she became an active volunteer for the Friends of Willard Library, twice serving as President, and for the Philharmonic Guild Board. Sharon worked in publicity, wrote home descriptions for the annual house tour and co-edited the Guild newsletter. Reading, cooking and travelling brought her great pleasure in retirement, as did the many calls and visits from her former students.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Dennis Tuggle; her parents and grandparents; her Aunt and Uncle, Earl and Vera Voight; her cousin, Ronald Voight; and her brother-in-law, Norman Snyder, Sr. She is survived by her family in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: her sister and lifelong friend, Carol Ann Snyder; nephews Norman Snyder, Jr. (Jennifer) and Scott Snyder; great-niece, Shealagh Rae Snyder; great-nephews, Connor Snyder (Dayna) and Cole Snyder (Elizabeth); and her great-great-niece, Hazel Rae Shearer.

During her last years, as her health declined Sharon was fortunate to have the support of her caregiver, Sylvia Guntel. Sharon's family wish to thank Sylvia for all of the kindness and support that she provided Sharon over many years, which allowed Sharon to remain in her home. Sharon had many close friends from her childhood, university and teaching years who remained dear to her and were always in her thoughts. In particular, she cherished her friendship with Julia Gregg of Evansville, who was always there for her.

In keeping with Sharon's wishes, she has been cremated. A memorial celebration of Sharon Bush Tuggle's life will take place at the Alexander North Chapel on Stringtown Road in Evansville at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2023. The celebration can viewed via livestream at www.facebook.com/FuneralStreamUSA. In lieu of flowers, Sharon's family asks that you consider making a donation to the Friends of Willard Library or an educational charity of your choosing.

Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNorthChapel.com