Mary Eileen Glenn Sharpe

MARY EILEEN GLENN SHARPE (Age 98) Mary Sharpe passed peacefully and in the presence of her devoted husband, Wilbur, on the morning of Sunday, September 13, 2020, at the Ashby Ponds Senior Living Community. Born February 5, 1922, in Elkhorn, West Virginia, to the late Ward Chase Glenn and Mabel Dagny Larson Glenn. She attended Shortridge (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Pittsboro (Pittsboro, Indiana) High Schools. During World War II, Mary worked with her sisters to support the Red Cross in Indianapolis. After the war ended in 1945, Mary began working at L.S. Ayres and Company, an Indiana Department Store, where she met Wilbur, “Bill,” through a mutual friend and they wed in early 1946. To their delight, they welcomed their only daughter, Cynthia, at Christmastime in 1946. Her neighbors in Bethesda, Maryland, loved to attend her dinner parties and fondly remembered dancing late into the evenings after an exquisite dinner. Mary rose to challenges and strove for perfection in all her endeavors. She was an avid reader, crossword enthusiast, and bountiful gardener – often choosing the joy of her garden over a summer vacation. Her artistic and sewing abilities, while often kept private, delighted those closest to her when given the opportunity. Always the philanthropist, Mary was a longtime supporter and volunteer for the Women’s Club of Bethesda among the many other beneficiaries of her time and talents. Mary is survived by her husband of 74 years, Wilbur B. Sharpe, Jr.; her dedicated daughter, Cynthia Burgess (Glenn); and her granddaughter Lauren Burgess. Mary was the last remaining of her 8 siblings - a lively and loving family. Interment will be scheduled at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Assistance League® of Northern Virginia (http://www.assistanceleague.org/northern-virginia) or Friends of Oflag 64 (http://www.friendofoflag64.org).