Obituary for Susanne Sharp Stewart

November 3, 1924 – June 30, 2021

Former First Lady of Denton and longtime philanthropist Susanne Sharp Stewart passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at the age of 96. She is survived by her children, Richard Olin "Buddy" Stewart, Jr. of Stansbury Park, UT; Barbara Lois Crandall of Sanger, TX; Allen Kenna Stewart of Duluth, GA; and Laura Susanne Shortridge of Albion, NY; plus 18 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and her sister Nelda Wallace. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, former mayor and city councilman Richard Olin "Dick" Stewart, Sr.; her parents; her brothers Bill Sharp, Tony Sharp, and Terry Sharp; her sister Exie Ryan; and her grandson Spencer Crandall.

"Susanne was born the fourth of six children to William Rouss Sharp and Aimee Jean Butts on a farm lovingly nicknamed "Poverty Knob" in Pottawatomie County, OK on November 3, 1924. After graduating high school at the age of 16, Susanne moved to Oklahoma City to work as the secretary for the president of Shell Oil Company. She later followed her older sister to southern California, where she met Dick, a returning war hero and Army Air Corps pilot. They were married on February 10, 1946 in Oklahoma City, OK. The new couple went back to Los Angeles, CA, where Dick graduated from UCLA, then joined American Airlines and was first stationed in Chicago, IL.

"After a decade in Tulsa, OK, punctuated by brief military deployments in Biloxi, MS and Waco, TX, Susanne and Richard moved their family to Denton. It was here that they became instrumental in leading the local Republican Party and became involved with multiple charities, including Optimist International and the Girl Scouts. Susanne served as the president of the Parent Teacher Association at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. She also served as Relief Society president in her church. She was deeply involved in her children's lives and was a powerful advocate for the underdog.

"Susanne led an exemplary life of giving. She wholeheartedly offered her home as a refuge to the downtrodden and, as a result, she was always surrounded by love and friendship. She earnestly and continuously lifted up the needy. Often found visiting the Good Samaritan Society to paint nails for other women, she would humbly insist, "Service is my only real talent." She loved fiercely and influenced countless lives in her community, but, most particularly, those of her devoted family for whom 96 beautiful years were still not quite enough.

"Funeral services in Susanne's honor will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 9, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3000 Old North Road in Denton, TX. A visitation will take place that same day at 12:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton. Memorials may be made to Big Brothers and Big Sisters or the Girl Scouts.