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Submitted: 6/29/11 • Approved: 6/30/11 • Last Updated: 7/29/12 • R553318-G553317-S3
Born February 10, 1916, Baxter County, Arkansas
Died April 11, 2011, Gassville, Baxter County, Arkansas.
Daughter of Josef & Anna Mastaler Wotawa.
Married William Elmer "Red" Sharp.
Obituary from Roller Funeral Homes Website:
Margaret Wotawa Sharp, 95
Margaret Sharp passed away Monday, April 11, 2011, at the Gassville Nursing Center.
In 1912 her father, Josef Wotawa, purchased 160 acres by mail from an advertisement in a German language newspaper. The property was two miles east of Mountain Home, traversed by a muddy, one-lane wagon trail. The family settled into an old log house and would become part of the pioneering German-speaking community of Baxter County. The small wagon trail would become U.S. Highway 62/412.
Margaret Wotawa was born February 10, 1916, one of five children of Josef and Anna Wotawa. She was raised in a German language household and learned English in school. In 1938 she met her husband to be at a neighbor's play party. Three weeks later she married this cowboy from New Mexico Territory, W.E. (Red) Sharp, and began a wonderful life together of nearly 50 years.
Margaret lived her life with kindness to all, with the simple philosophy "Enjoy one day at a time." She delighted in helping children and was active in the East Oakland Community as a 4-H club leader and in the PTA at the Oakland Wing School. She had a life long love of flowers and has left a floral legacy of roses, lilac, wisteria and many more for passers-by to enjoy.
Margaret is survived by her sister, Agnes Wotawa Boman; son, Francis Dale "Sonny" Sharp (Judi); granddaughters Marjorie Stoddard Schultz (Tom), Robin Stoddard, Christine Stoddard Rhoney (Chris), Teresa Stoddard Jones (Chris), and Julie Sharp Summa (Bruce); a grandson, Steven Ramey Sharp (Carlene); great-granddaughters Christine Pilgrim, Victoria Jones, Bridget Summa and Samantha Sharp; great-grandsons, Kurt Pilgrim, Joseph Rhoney, William Rhoney, and Wyatt Sharp; and great-great grandson, Eli Esquibel-Pilgrim.
She was preceded in death by her husband; mother and father; sister, Johanna Wotawa Crocker; brothers, Mike and Robert Wotawa; and daughter, Roberta Sharp Stoddard.
Visitation will be on Friday, April 15, 2011, at Roller's Funeral Home from noon till 9 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A service will be conducted at the chapel at Roller's at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. Burial will follow at the East Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Baxter County Library Foundation.
Arrangements by Roller Funeral Home. Online guestbook:www.rollerfuneralhomes.com
(Photo courtesy of Larry Havner)
Contributed on 6/29/11 by maxparnell
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Record #: 553318