Sharon Ann Fisher

Sharon Ann Fisher was born on April 18, 1935, in Buffalo, New York. She died peacefully on June 17, 2026, in Visalia, California at the age of 91 after a brief illness. Her loving son Mark was by her side.

She was born an only child to Howard Charles Koch and Madeline Amy Koch and was raised in Buffalo wearing snow suits, drinking hot chocolate and sledding. As a result of her exposure to classical music at an early age, she learned to play the piano. She attended Bennett High School in Buffalo and Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She then returned to Buffalo and worked for Bell Aircraft Corporation in their Photography/Motion Picture department.

On a “flip of a coin” and the promise of California sunshine, she and two of her closest friends (Ruth Albert and her fraternal twin sister Roberta) boarded a plane in 1956 and moved to Sunnyvale. She worked at the new Lockheed Missile and Space Company in Palo Alto. Sharon has always loved to travel and during this time, she took a four-month leave of absence and traveled throughout Europe with her friend Susan Bell. After returning, one of her friends set her up on a blind date where she would meet her future husband and love of her life, Allan Dean Fisher.

After a six-month courtship, they soon married on June 6, 1959, and established a home in Felton, where they welcomed their son Mark Allan. Five years later they moved to San Jose, where they welcomed their daughter Karen Lynn. Fremont became their next home, where they lived for 15 years, developed lifelong friends and became very active members of their community. After then living in Pleasanton and San Ramon, Sharon and Allan relocated to Visalia in 1994 and worked together with their son Mark and daughter-in-law Maureen in their family business Mission Care Group. Visalia turned out to be their “forever” home, where this wonderful and generous community embraced them and Sharon made her most endearing friendships. She loved her friends and made them each feel special, and continued those friendships through charity work, bridge, book club and the P.E.O. sisterhood.

Sharon will be remembered for her elegance, tenacity, generosity, gratitude, faithfulness to God and love of her country. She was always poised and curated a beautiful home with their travel “treasures” from all around the world. She was sous chef to Allan’s five-course dinner parties, and often the subject of his jokes! They were an amazing team.

She was passionate about community service and worked tirelessly for many non-profit organizations. She initially joined the Visalia “Newcomers” club and Soroptimist International of Visalia which gave her a chance to get acquainted with people in the community. Her love of the piano spearheaded her on-going interest in the arts, specifically symphonic music. Most notably, she joined the Tulare County Symphony League and became an active member, board member and eventually president. During this time, she also became a board member of the Tulare County Symphony Association (now known as the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra). Sharon was also an active board member of Family Services of Tulare County for many years and served as the organization’s president as well. She and Allan were active in Pro Youth Heart and volunteered and sponsored many enrichment programs at Annie R Mitchell Elementary School. They were generous donors to many other community organizations.

Sharon experienced loss during her life, especially when her daughter Karen Lynn died unexpectedly in 2000. After Allan’s death in 2015, she rallied and became quite independent, as it was the first time she had ever lived on her own. She was fortunate to attend her three grandchildren’s weddings and welcome eight great-grandchildren with open arms.

She is survived by her son Mark and daughter-in-law Maureen; grandchildren Connor (Erin) Fisher, Iain (Laura) Fisher and Caitlin (Jay) teVelde; great-grandchildren Charlotte, Jayson, Brooklyn, Carson, Allan, Juliette, Hannah and Blaire; and her cherished sisters-in-law Peggy McAlpine of Sun City West, AZ and Pat Fisher of Hereford, TX.

A private internment was held, and she now rests in peace alongside her husband Allan, daughter Karen and mother Madeline.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 10AM at Visalia First, 3737 S Akers Street, Visalia, CA followed by a reception at the Visalia Country Club.

At her request, memorial donations may be made to the Tulare County Symphony League P.O. Box 4264 Visalia, CA 93278.