Billie Sharp

Billie Ruth (Woodle) Sharp died Nov. 8, 2016, in Austin. She was 86. Her funeral service will be at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, in the pavilion at the Parker Memorial Cemetery in Grapevine, with arrangements by All Faiths Funeral Services, 8507 N IH-35 Austin, Texas 78753

Billie was born July 26, 1930, in Bogota, Texas, to Lee Roy and Lillian Mae (Herring) Woodle. After Billie's father was disabled by a shotgun blast that took his left arm, Lillian took her family to Dallas where she was the primary breadwinner, working in a hosiery factory. Billie grew up in humble circumstances in Dallas. She graduated from high school in Dallas and then went to Abilene Christian College in Abilene in 1948 where she met Eddie Leon Sharp. Leon, as he was called, was a senior Bible major, preparing to preach. They fell in love and married Feb. 4, 1950. Billie and Leon had three sons: Eddie Leon Sharp, Jr., Roy Mark Sharp and Bryan Lee Sharp. Billie and Leon were married for 66 years.

Billie and Leon ministered together for 45 years in congregations of the Church of Christ in Grandfalls, Bronte, Sheffield, Meadow, El Paso, Denison, Canton and Anson, and in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and Frederick, Oklahoma. Billie was the consummate homemaker and minister's wife. Her gifts of hospitality to all and of teaching children blessed each church they served.

Billie and Leon retired in 1995 in Canton, returning to a church they had loved and to the community where Billie could develop her interest in antiques and collectible glassware into a business that would add significant income to their rather lean retirement income. Billie delighted in finding estate sale treasures and in bargaining with customers at her booth in the Pavilion at Canton's First Monday Trade days. Leon served as her willing and bemused assistant.

When operating her business became too much and age made its mark, Billie and Leon moved to Austin to be near children. They were members of the University Avenue Church of Christ in Austin. Even as Billie's memory eroded, her spirit of joyful kindness remained. When all she had was one sensible sentence to give to others, that sentence was kind and complimentary.

Billie was pre-deceased by her parents and Roy Lee Woodle, her brother. She is survived by her husband Leon, sons and daughter-in-lawsa�" Eddie and Annette of Austin, Mark and Cindy of San Antonio, and Bryan and Mary of McKinney, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.