Sharon Wildhaber

Sharon Ann Wildhaber passed away on December 26 th , 2023 following declining health.

She was born March 28th , 1941 to Charles and Edith Laughary in Willapa, Washington,
where she grew up. Sharon attended the Sylvandale Grade School and graduated from
Willapa Valley High School in 1959. She married her high school sweetheart Carl
Wildhaber the following Labor Day weekend. 13 months later as she was giving birth to
their first child, Carl was moving their belongings to the farmhouse they purchased
along the bank of the Willapa tidewater in East Raymond where they lived for 63 years.

Sharon and Carl raised three children and Sharon was a stay at home mother until their
kids were teenagers. She was active in her children’s lives as a 4-H leader, Valley
Booster Club member, and supporter of whatever event each child was involved in.

Sharon had unlimited energy and creativity. She became a Realtor and later founded
Sharon A’s flower and gift shop. One week following her grand opening, she had her
first funeral order of flowers, the unexpected passing of her own mother. Following the
sale of Sharon A’s, she had a two story cottage built next to their home, called it The
Summerhouse, managed it as a bed and breakfast, and later as a long term rental.
Woven into all of this, she was an active Willapa Valley events organizer, including the
big five year reunions and chairing a talent show in the 1970’s mimicking The Gong
Show. Sharon organized a family cookbook and self-published a book of family history.

Since high school, Sharon suffered with back pain. It worsened in her late 60’s, and in
her 70’s the increased pain brought a steady decline in her mobility, which eventually
put her in a wheelchair. Sharon inspired those who knew her with her positive attitude.
She learned to cook from a wheelchair without seeing what was in the pot and
continued to put dinner on the table until her last month. She never missed a birthday
and had her house in order and decorated for Christmas when she took her last
ambulance ride to the hospital.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Judy, and several cousins.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years Carl, children Greg (Caroline) Wildhaber,
Julie (Gary) Schwiesow, and Joan (Steven) Loberg, six grandchildren and five great
grandchildren.

Sharon’s funeral will be at 11:00AM on Friday, January 12th at the St Lawerence
Catholic Church in Raymond, followed by a reception and then graveside at the Fern
Hill Cemetery.