Raynelda Beard Sharp

Raynelda Beard Sharp (82), of Carmel, who passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease on July 25, 2018 will be best remembered for the love and laughter she shared with so many during her lifetime. A lifelong student and teacher, enhancing her own knowledge and generously sharing through teaching was Ray’s true vocation.

Raynelda was born in Erlanger, Kentucky on July 28, 1935, to Raymond Clayton Beard and Thelma Ruth (Britt) Beard. Ray was a dedicated student, tutoring her peers throughout her grade school and high school years. She was the recipient of an academic scholarship to the University of Kentucky. Ray fell in love and married Bob Reed White in 1955, leaving school to set up house and start a family. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. She later attended Butler University in Indianapolis and earned her master’s degree in education, while teaching and being a wife and mother.

Raynelda met her surviving husband, Paul Kent Sharp, on a hayride. Kent was a professor of electrical engineering at IUPUI and as educators, they had much in common. They dated on and off, stayed in touch for seventeen years and finally married on June 10, 1989, in a wedding of such joy and love it touched everyone in attendance. She became a friend to his brothers, Stephen and John, their families, and to Kent’s sister, Karen. Kent became a grandfather to Ray’s grandchildren, Logan White, Victoria Glascock, Cameron Glascock and Katelynn White. Ray and Kent hosted holiday dinners for friends and family and delighted in taking the grandchildren to plays, museums, and parks, filling their lives with love, and the joy of exploration and learning.

Kent and Ray embarked on many adventures, venturing throughout Russia when it opened to American tourists, touring cities in Great Britain and Scotland, visiting Prague, Istanbul and Budapest. They toured glaciers in Alaska, road the narrow-gauge railroad in Canada, cruised the Panama Canal, enjoyed the paradise of Hawaii and trekked across America following the sojourn of the Lewis and Clark expedition. They were intrepid travelers, filming and photographing their adventures to later share with family and friends.

Raynelda loved books, music, plays, movies, museums and parks. She shared her love of these with her children, her students, and later with her grandchildren. She was a storyteller and ventriloquist, using her many puppets to make her stories come even more alive. Ray was charismatic, holding her audience of little people enthralled while she spun a vivid tale.

Ray is survived by her loving husband, Kent, her daughter, Rebecca (Dean) Glascock, and her son, Stephen (Traci) White, and her adoring grandchildren. She leaves behind her sister, Joyce (John) Knox. Raynelda was preceded in death by her parents and youngest sister, Vivian (Dennis) Augur. She will be remembered by her nieces and nephews and their families from her sister, Vivian, and from her sister-in-law, Rowena (Ronald) White. Ray shared extraordinary friendships with women from her childhood, her teaching career and her faith, maintaining a closeness through many years and many miles.

Alzheimer’s may have robbed Ray of her memories, but she lives in ours.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Flanner and Buchanan, 325 E Carmel Dr, Carmel, IN 46032. Visiting is at 10:00 am, with a service to follow at 11:00 am and a luncheon at noon. Please RSVP for the luncheon to Rebecca Glascock by text or phone at 317-716-7012, or email at [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation is suggested.