Owens, Sharon Sanders
Sharon Sanders Owens, of Pulaski, Va., passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 9, 2015, after a three year battle with cancer at the early age of 57. She fiercely fought off death until the last of her three sons could make it home to be with her. He arrived at 11 p.m. Then, with all three sons and her husband home, she quietly went to sleep and never woke up.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, George and Thelma Sanders of Wytheville.
She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Andy Owens. She leaves three sons, of which she was very proud, Drew Owens of Richmond, Graham Owens of Washington, D.C., and Hayes Owens of Pulaski. She was very close to her sister and brother-in-law, Brenda and Tom Osborne of Troutville, as well as her brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Joann Leedy of Austin, Texas. Also surviving are three nieces, Jennifer Leedy Green, Michelle Osborne Martinovic, and Heather Osborne Johnson; and a nephew, Alan Randolph Leedy. She is also survived by very many cousins. She was very close to her sister-in-law, Kellie Owens Reams and her husband, Scott Reams, of Lynchburg, and their children, Molly Kate and Sarah Carson.
A graduate of George Wythe High School, she attended Emory and Henry College, where she studied English literature. Her first job after graduating was as the English department at Mount Rogers High School, where she was very kindly welcomed by the community. She soon after came to Pulaski County High School, where she taught Senior English for 33 years before retiring because of her health. At PCHS she had a great relationship with all of her co-workers at school, and particularly her English department friends. A special part of her life was spent with a merry band of mirth makers from the English department, an invaluable support system for Sharon. They were invaluably encouraging to, but also encouraged by, her. According to her co-workers, the respect for Sharon Owens at PCHS knew no boundaries. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, and a longtime member of the Stuart Chapter of the DAR.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2015, from 4 to 6 p.m. and her service will be held on Monday, July 13, 2015, at 11 a.m., all at Stevens Funeral Home, 815 Randolph Ave., Pulaski, Va. Burial will take place immediately after the service at Graham-Robinson Cemetery in Graham’s Forge. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Project Moon Shots, an MD Anderson Cancer Center research project, which can be accessed via their website: www.cancermoonshots.org/cancer-types/lung Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski, Va., 540-980-2600.