Patricia Wenona Sharp Lamoureux
Patricia Wenona Sharp Lamoureux
1939 – 2023
Patricia Wenona Sharp Lamoureux died peacefully at home surrounded by loving family on 9 July 2023 in Alpine, Utah. She died of problems inherent with old age. She was born on 15 September 1939 in the country surrounding Marlinton, West Virginia. She is the tenth child of fourteen children of Charles Jack Sharp and Ora Belle Thompson. She is preceded in death by her parents and by brothers Jack, Earl, Lew, Dempsey “Dick”, and Charles “Hub” and by sister Brenda “Cookie.” She is survived by sisters Catherine, Kay, and Charlotte and by brothers Craig, Don, Tom, and Doug.
She married Joseph George Lamoureux on 20 August 1959 and had four children, Christopher (Cathy), Laura (Stacey Mulkey), Joseph “Patrick” (Kathy), and Lida Mitchell (Bob). Her beloved husband, Joe, passed away in 2017 and her son, Patrick, passed away from Covid-19 in 2021. She has a prodigious posterity that includes fourteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren (with the twentieth on the way in August 2023!)
Two words that would best describe Patricia are devoted caregiver. Growing up, she was the eldest daughter for the youngest batch of kids and was responsible to take care of her younger siblings. She left home immediately after high school and went to Concord College in Athens, West Virginia. While there, she became interested in the Catholic Church and converted to Catholicism. The nearest Catholic Church to Athens is in Princeton and students from Concord would car pool to get to church each week. One of the young men who drove each week was a handsome young man who played the trumpet, Joey Lamoureux. The two dated in a whirlwind romance and were married in less than six months. She married at the tender age of nineteen.
At that time, Joe’s father was crippled and a widower and moved in with the young family. The couple were barely off of their honeymoon and Patricia was responsible for the care of her father-in-law while Joe took his first job as the Band Director of Rural Retreat, Virginia. Four children came in the next five years and her time was dedicated to raising her family and supporting Joe in his career. After the birth of Patrick, her third child, Patricia quit teaching at the Rural Retreat Elementary School in order to be with her children full time. Her daughter, Laura, relates, “I remember Mom saying that she walked into our daycare and found me and Patrick piled up together in a crib and Patrick was crying and had a full diaper and that’s when Mom yanked us outta there and gave up teaching!”
Patricia was always involved in the education of her children. She also assisted with the band boosters for Joe’s bands and volunteered in the community in numerous organizations. She raised her four children and supported Joe through assignments in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Utah.
The high point of Joe’s career was as the Band Director of the Highty Tighties, a cadet marching band at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. During this time, social responsibilities of a professor’s wife were added to her plate. She and Joe enjoyed their return to Blacksburg. Years later, she would still speak of fondness of the students and faculty at Virginia Tech. She was a Hokie to the end.
The last assignment for the family was as Band Director at Rural Retreat High School. Patricia and Joe ended their professional career in the place where it all began. They bought a small farm in the country and Patricia and Joe had a wonderful time raising cattle and farming. She would often talk about her farming roots and lit up with excitement to see growing things. She became a Master Gardener and was sought out for her expertise in plants and gardens. It was here that she and Joe became grandparent caregivers to two adorable grandchildren. Their daughter lived in a house at the corner of their farm and her two children were often at Grandma’s house. She and Joe took pride in all that they did and attended many school events.
It was in Rural Retreat that tragedy struck. Joe had a debilitating stroke which left him paralyzed and unable to speak. He could no longer work and was forced into retirement. Patricia cared for him for 25 years until his death in 2017, as well as caring for her grandchildren and the farm.
In 2015, caring for Joe was becoming too difficult so she and Joe moved in with their son in Utah. Still, Patricia was his caregiver and took care of him until the end.
Patricia loved education and was always learning. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University. She was a farm girl who loved to get dirty and work. She took pride in animal husbandry and gardening. She was a devoted Catholic and attended mass each week as long as she was physically able. She had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and was His disciple. She was active in local and regional politics. She was active in the local Senior Citizen’s Group. She was an avid supporter of Joe’s bands, the children’s activities and in everything else her large family was doing. She was charitable and kind.
We love her and look forward to a glorious resurrection where we can be with her again.
There will be a viewing on 14 July 2023 from 6-8pm at Warenski Funeral Home in American Fork, Utah. This will be the only activity in Utah.
Another viewing will take place on 28 July 2023 from 6-8pm at the Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville, Virginia. Her funeral mass will take place on 29 July 2023 at 11am at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Wytheville, Virginia with a viewing from 10-11am before the mass.
She was always looking to help those in need, especially in education. Although she enjoys flowers, she would appreciate it if you would instead consider donating the cost of flowers to the Ora Belle Thompson Sharp Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is named after Patricia’s mother, who raised fourteen children but never graduated from high school herself. It is administered by Patricia’s niece. You can make out a check to the name of the Fund and send to Marvina Irvine, 2545 Brownsburg Road, Marlinton, WV 24954. Venmo @Marvina-Irvine or PayPal @marvinairvine1. Please specify that it is for the scholarship fund.