It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sharon Penrod, our loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to many. On the morning of September 6, 2023, in her 81st year, with her beloved husband and daughter by her side, Sharon passed away after a long, but courageous battle with cancer.
Sharon spent her early years in the rural community of Berne, Indiana. The family then moved to Lake James in Angola, Indiana when Sharon was around 9 years old. She loved the water and became a lifelong swimmer as a result of those youthful years on Lake James. She graduated from Angola High School in 1960, where she was a baton twirler and cheerleader. She made many lifelong friends at AHS, who remember her as a sweet and kind person who was always ready to help.
Her loving family nurtured Sharon into an adventurous soul who loved to travel and try new things. Her strong family bond made her a devoted daughter and a protective sister. After high school, Sharon became a reservation agent for American Airlines in Chicago. That airline affiliation allowed her to share her love of travel with her family and friends to many special places. In 1962, on one of those trips with her brother to Phoenix, AZ, she met the love of her life, Michael Penrod, while on vacation at the Caravan Inn. They married in June of 1964 and shortly thereafter welcomed their daughter, Deborah.
Sharon was a modern-day working woman of the mid 60’s. She spent 37 years working in the printing industry for Moore Business Forms. Through her perceptive skills of problem solving and the ability to apply an array of technical specs, she rose through the ranks from order checker to Pressure Sensitive Label Specialist. Sharon gained the respect of her peers and made many friends during her time with the company. She also found great fulfillment in supporting her husband’s career as a studio potter by managing the books, packing pieces for art fairs, and staging gallery showings. With a lifestyle of limited means she always found ways to cultivate an artful home for her family. Ever the altruist, Sharon was also a member of the philanthropic organization of Psi Iota Xi.
In 1993, retiring to Arizona, she found many passions beyond work in the form of loving on her grandchildren, swimming, hiking, playing mahjong, and being a member of her beloved Red Hat Society. She had an appetite for adventure and trying new things—as shown when she chose to skydive for her 70th birthday activity!
Sharon was filled with life, always true to her word, and showed resiliency in every challenge she faced. She never missed a chance to show her love through many thoughtful letters or cards and was known in her family for keeping everyone connected. A large highlight every year was the annual Liechty family reunions, which she always attended.
Sharon is survived by her husband Michael, daughter Deborah (Michael) Hartwell and granddaughters Dale Hartwell (Troy) Ballard and Madison (David Garrison) Hartwell; her brother Mel (Peg) Babcock; and preceded in death by her parents Esther and Lester Babcock.
Sharon’s family is so grateful for the outpouring of love, support, kind words, and letters from her loved ones – the truest testament to her spirit.
In lieu of flowers, Sharon would be overjoyed for well-wishers to contribute to Sunshine Acres Children’s Home https://sunshineacres.org/ or The American Cancer Society https://donate.cancer.org/.
Sharon was a true and faithful friend since we met in 5th grade in Angola. We were texting each other just the weekend before she died. Being Sharon, she didn’t mention how she was feeling. I will miss her so much.
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Sharon was a dear classmate and friend in Angola. I enjoyed going to her family’s house on Lake James and remember “little brother”, Mel well. Keith & I had the privilege of having breakfast with her and Michael at our 50th class reunion. I will miss her-a beautiful lady inside and out.
So many fond high school memories that will never go away.
Sue (Ulmer) Louiseau
Condolences to the family of Sharon Babcock-Pernod, I remember Sharon, very well, a kind person to every one she met. She will be missed by all that knew her. A classmate from AHS-Roslyn Greenamyer-Albersmeyer