Sharon L. Hodle was born in Leavenworth, KS in 1953 to parents Margaret and Ralph Fangohr.
She graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and from there she attended the University of Kansas where she graduated with a degree in journalism.
As a young child Sharon loved to read and loved all the Nancy Drew books, thus started her love and thirst for knowledge and writing. She always thought she wanted to be a nurse and she volunteered at Sharon Lane Nursing Home as a Candy Striper. After that time period, she decided nursing was not for her. She then turned to writing poetry and always wanted to write a book. Sharon was always asking "Why" and much to the chagrin of her parents. But her thirst for knowledge never ended. She always wanted to change the world to make it a better place for all.
Growing up she spent many summers walking to Lake Quivira with her sister for their daily swimming, tanning and checking out the boys on the beach. The day always ended going to the club house for homemade french fries and a coke.
Sharon loved music of all kinds and dancing to the latest tunes. She also made tree houses in the woods behind her parent's house and looked for fossils in the creeks. She was at times a little tomboy. She also spent many summers camping and boating at various lakes with her family and friends until her parents bought a lake home at Pomme De Terre Lake in Missouri. She then spent many weekends at Pomme de Terre with her husband and family.
As a teenager she worked at TWA Training Facility for stewardesses. She always talked about how much the trainees would eat and then starve themselves before they had to weigh-in. After college Sharon worked at Black & Veatch where she met and fell in love with her soon-to-be husband Bob. They married on Oct 23, 1976 in Kansas City, MO. A few years later they had their first son Brian followed by Kevin and then Justin. Being married to Bob took them on many adventures. They lived in Orlando, FL; Ridgecrest, CA; Lakeside,AZ and then the company brought them back to Olathe, KS where they resided for 25 years.
She was a full-time Mom and loved every minute of it and her joy was from seeing her sons and family members all having fun together. Her greatest joy came from being a grandmother, her eyes would light up at seeing them laugh, play and enjoying the dogs. She loved to cook for her family and friends and make elaborate cakes for special occasions. All you had to do was ask and she would stay up all night if that is what she needed to do and thank goodness Bob was always there to clean up her mess. She was a giving person with the biggest heart. She loved the holidays especially Christmas and she always gave everyone 20 gifts or so to speak and everyone always got a calendar!
Besides raising a family of three boys she would write articles for publications such as Boys Life and several physicians' magazines. Her love of history and the arts started her business Past Paper Treasures of collectible newspapers, magazines, and illustrated ads. She also maintained two booths at the Lawrence Antique Mall in Lawrence, KS.
She was publicly recognized by the World War II Museum in Washington DC for her contributions of period-related memorabilia that were used as gifts to major donors to the museum and was personally invited to attend the dedication ceremony.
Sharon attended the Westside Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, KS and was strong in her religious faith.
Sharon leaves behind her husband of 39 years, Bob Hodle, her three sons, Brian of Fuyang,China; Kevin and his wife Pam of Raytown, Mo; Justin of Olathe, KS; mother-in-law Carolyn Hodle of Phoenix AZ; sister Vickie Van Blarcum and husband Charles of Lawrerce, KS; brother Kenneth Fangohr and wife Pamela of Lawrence, KS; four grandsons Carson, James, Hunter and Damian. Two nieces; Melissa Steward and Sandra Fangohr and two nephews; Jason Van Blarcum and Matthew Fangohr.
Proceeded in death are parents Margaret and Ralph Fangohr and father-in-law George Hodle.
Memorial contributions are welcome and can be sent to Wayside Waifs in Raytown, MO.
