Obituary for Linda "Sue" Sharpe
It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Linda “Sue” Sharpe, on 1/7/2023. She was surrounded by family at the time of her passing. She touched many lives and will be missed.
Sue was born in Detroit, MI in January 1950. As an infant her young parents decided to move her to be with more family on Little Fox Creek in Vansant, VA. She resided there for about a year while her parents sought to pursue job opportunities and a new place to call home. Throughout her life, she would remain close with her family in Fox Creek, particularly Bobbie and Betty.
Oakie was an adventurous sort, and he recognized the opportunities during the post-war boom where he might practice his trade as a welder. Oakie eventually found the right fit in San Francisco, CA, so Virginia and Sue made the cross-county trip to join him where they settled in Pacifica, CA. In 1953, her sister, Jackie Chirolo was born. Her brother, Joseph Boyd, was born in 1961. Sue remained close with her siblings throughout her lifetime, supporting and depending upon one another through good and bad times. She was always willing to listen and give advice as the big sister.
During her teenage years, she was a professed Beatlemaniac. Later in life, she would often tell a story of spraining an ankle while she ran after the Beatles’ motorcade amidst hundreds of crazed fans. Sue graduated from Terra Nova High School in 1968. Rather than accept a graduation gift of a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, she chose the gift of a wedding. In 1969, Sue married Dennis Krieg and moved to San Bruno, CA. Her only child, Matthew Krieg, was born in 1970. Alas, it was a complicated time, and Sue decided in 1978 to move to Nashville, TN where her parents had recently relocated. Although her marriage to Dennis didn’t last, she bravely faced the future and had no regrets.
In Nashville, Sue worked as a waitress while she earned an LP nursing license. Fate would send her down a different path though as she broke her leg from a fall at work. Unable to support herself and her son as a waitress or a nurse with a broken leg, she landed a job as an operator in the Telecommunications Department for Vanderbilt University. In time, Sue became the unofficial tour guide whenever someone was visiting. She was a proud Nashvillian, and she particularly enjoyed bragging about the spectacular annual Independence Day fireworks show that seems to get more elaborate each year.
She met Eric Sharpe during this era and found love again. They were married in 1994. Two of Eric’s children, Christie and Amber often visited them and became a big part of their lives. They were the daughters she had always wanted. She enjoyed the visits by Christie and Amber, and she loved their families too.
Her favorite memory was attending Matthew’s wedding in 2007, where she gained a daughter-in-law, Janira Krieg. Her grandsons Dylan Krieg and Connor Krieg were born in 2010 and 2013, respectively. They would light up her life anytime they were around. She reveled in their exploits and shared pictures of them with everyone she could.
Sue spent her later years taking care of Oakie, Virginia, and Eric, all of whom had prolonged health issues. Sacrifice for family was her mantra. Sadly, she would watch them precede her in death. Life became lonely. Sue retired from Vanderbilt after 35 years in 2021. Sue lived modestly and in faith. She studied the Bible, worshipped, and prayed as preparation to see her loved ones again. She was proud of her home, and she could not fathom moving. In retirement, she would garden when physically able, and she would talk with Jackie, Joseph and Matthew almost every day.
Linda Sue Sharpe was preceded in death by her parents, Oakie and Virginia Boyd, and her husband Eric Sharpe.
Sue is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Janira Krieg, grandsons Dylan and Conner Krieg; sister and husband Jackie and Duane Chirolo; brother and wife Joseph and Donna Boyd; nephews Craig and Aaron Chirolo, nieces Taylor, Madison and Sydney Boyd, and an extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins too numerous to name briefly, but all whom she loved dearly.
A memorial will be held on 5/27/2023 at 11 am at Haysi Funeral Home in Haysi, VA. Her remains will be laid to rest in the Boyd Family gravesite in Vansant, VA.
Sue was born in Detroit, MI in January 1950. As an infant her young parents decided to move her to be with more family on Little Fox Creek in Vansant, VA. She resided there for about a year while her parents sought to pursue job opportunities and a new place to call home. Throughout her life, she would remain close with her family in Fox Creek, particularly Bobbie and Betty.
Oakie was an adventurous sort, and he recognized the opportunities during the post-war boom where he might practice his trade as a welder. Oakie eventually found the right fit in San Francisco, CA, so Virginia and Sue made the cross-county trip to join him where they settled in Pacifica, CA. In 1953, her sister, Jackie Chirolo was born. Her brother, Joseph Boyd, was born in 1961. Sue remained close with her siblings throughout her lifetime, supporting and depending upon one another through good and bad times. She was always willing to listen and give advice as the big sister.
During her teenage years, she was a professed Beatlemaniac. Later in life, she would often tell a story of spraining an ankle while she ran after the Beatles’ motorcade amidst hundreds of crazed fans. Sue graduated from Terra Nova High School in 1968. Rather than accept a graduation gift of a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, she chose the gift of a wedding. In 1969, Sue married Dennis Krieg and moved to San Bruno, CA. Her only child, Matthew Krieg, was born in 1970. Alas, it was a complicated time, and Sue decided in 1978 to move to Nashville, TN where her parents had recently relocated. Although her marriage to Dennis didn’t last, she bravely faced the future and had no regrets.
In Nashville, Sue worked as a waitress while she earned an LP nursing license. Fate would send her down a different path though as she broke her leg from a fall at work. Unable to support herself and her son as a waitress or a nurse with a broken leg, she landed a job as an operator in the Telecommunications Department for Vanderbilt University. In time, Sue became the unofficial tour guide whenever someone was visiting. She was a proud Nashvillian, and she particularly enjoyed bragging about the spectacular annual Independence Day fireworks show that seems to get more elaborate each year.
She met Eric Sharpe during this era and found love again. They were married in 1994. Two of Eric’s children, Christie and Amber often visited them and became a big part of their lives. They were the daughters she had always wanted. She enjoyed the visits by Christie and Amber, and she loved their families too.
Her favorite memory was attending Matthew’s wedding in 2007, where she gained a daughter-in-law, Janira Krieg. Her grandsons Dylan Krieg and Connor Krieg were born in 2010 and 2013, respectively. They would light up her life anytime they were around. She reveled in their exploits and shared pictures of them with everyone she could.
Sue spent her later years taking care of Oakie, Virginia, and Eric, all of whom had prolonged health issues. Sacrifice for family was her mantra. Sadly, she would watch them precede her in death. Life became lonely. Sue retired from Vanderbilt after 35 years in 2021. Sue lived modestly and in faith. She studied the Bible, worshipped, and prayed as preparation to see her loved ones again. She was proud of her home, and she could not fathom moving. In retirement, she would garden when physically able, and she would talk with Jackie, Joseph and Matthew almost every day.
Linda Sue Sharpe was preceded in death by her parents, Oakie and Virginia Boyd, and her husband Eric Sharpe.
Sue is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Janira Krieg, grandsons Dylan and Conner Krieg; sister and husband Jackie and Duane Chirolo; brother and wife Joseph and Donna Boyd; nephews Craig and Aaron Chirolo, nieces Taylor, Madison and Sydney Boyd, and an extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins too numerous to name briefly, but all whom she loved dearly.
A memorial will be held on 5/27/2023 at 11 am at Haysi Funeral Home in Haysi, VA. Her remains will be laid to rest in the Boyd Family gravesite in Vansant, VA.