Delilah Sharp

Lovingly Remembered….

A well-loved grandma, living life to the fullest, quietly left us as she stepped out the door, doing one last loving act before the angels came to take her home. She stepped outside that snowy January evening to clear the last scattering of snow off the steps, so her husband wouldn’t slip. She didn’t know the angels were waiting to quietly usher her to the golden gates where a joyous welcome awaited.

Delilah A. (Miller) Sharp, born to Roman H. and Amanda (Overholt) Miller on November 20, 1935, peacefully passed on to heaven from her home in Bolivar, Ohio on January 13, 2018 at 82 years of age. She lived an active life to the last, accompanying her husband in the tree stand, and helping him drag his deer from the woods, days before she went home.

An infant sister, Mary awaited her in heaven, as well as her parents, and her brother, Dr. David R. Miller. She is missed by her beloved husband of 58 years, Urie Jonathan Sharp, who called her his queen, as well as her five precious children: Dorcas (Jerry) Hoover of Dover, Ohio; Julia May of Sarasota, Florida; Marcus (Claudia) Sharp of Hartville, Ohio; Jana (Jake) Kropf of Halsey, Oregon; Jonathan (Amber) Sharp of Horse Head, New York; 17 adored grandchildren: Jerry (Kaylene) Hoover, Justin (Jo) Hoover, Judith (Marvin) Wengerd, Joshua (Jenna) Hoover, Janae (Ben) Byler, Janelle Hoover, Dylan and Jared May, Courtney (Ned) Coblentz, Chelsea, Gabrielle, and Carson Sharp, Jarien, Jaden and Jocelyn Kropf, and Cataleya and Gabriel Sharp; two dear great-grandchildren: Abrielle Hoover and James William Hoover; five siblings: John Henry (Kathryn) Miller of Hartville, Ohio; Paul (Rachel) Miller of Uniontown, Ohio; Reuben (Wilma) Miller of Delano, Tennessee; Ruth (Ray) Schrock of Mogadore, Ohio; and Lois (Steve) Sinegar of Uniontown, Ohio; sister-in-law: Joanne Miller; and many relatives and friends.

Delilah lived in Hartville most of her life. As the eldest daughter, “Lilah” lovingly cared for and encouraged her siblings. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School, and earned a teacher’s certificate from Kent State University. She taught school for four years, was a substitute teacher for 55 years, and taught home economics for many semesters.

Delilah always said, “If my husband is fulfilled, I am fulfilled.” She supportively gave her husband wings to minister and to use the gifts God gave him, cheerfully travelling with him on many international and cross-country ministry ventures, choir tours, and mission trips. She always sang in his choirs, and her husband says she was his best low alto.

Delilah provided her children with a delightful childhood on a shoestring budget, and sewed everything from suits to doll clothes. “Necessity is the mother of creativity,” she often told her children. Regular trips to the Hartville Library and reading to her children were high on her priority list, and she urged her children to do their best. She bravely roughed it, sleeping in tents to enable adventures of her family. She found time to graciously serve countless unexpected guests, and make creative birthday cakes. People were more important to her than things. She loved photography and scrapbooking the many memories of their travel adventures or family memories.

A woman of sparkle and spunk, at the age of 65 she joined her husband in hunting, and must have been one of the best 82-year-old sharpshooters, shooting deer with her bow from the house windows or ladder stand. The deer in Tuscarawas County can now be at ease.

Delilah passionately loved her grandchildren and was their greatest cheerleader, joining them in canoeing, four-wheeling, and tea parties, never turning down the opportunity for adventure, a party, or playing a game of Rummy Cube. When her grandson gave her a four-wheeler ride, complete with a wheelie, and she didn’t utter a squeak, the grandson claimed, “She’s the bravest grandma I know.” Her daily prayers for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be greatly missed. But she is now more alive and radiant than ever.

When asked about her life motto, she said, “My motto is to be faithful in serving the Lord, my husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and my church. I want to give a listening ear, encouraging others by my life, to live their lives well-pleasing to God, so we may all someday meet around the great white throne.”

A service in her memory will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Bethany Mennonite Church, 3497 Edison St. NE, Hartville, Ohio, with a viewing at 9:00 AM. Calling hours will be held at the same location, on Friday, January 19, 2018 from 1-4 and 6-8 PM.