Carol Jean [Hogan] Sharpe

"1,2,3,1,2,3". On 12/31/23 Carol Sharpe waltzed out of this earthly life surrounded by her loving family. A piano has 88 keys and Carol used all of them to make beautiful music, often adding

her beautiful voice. She lived 88 years, enriching others not just with music, but through the

“song” of her life.

Born to Mary and William Hogan in Pasadena, California on December 2, 1935, Carol Jean

Sharpe, was a beloved mom, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, great aunt, and dearest

friend to many. Her childhood was spent in Pasadena, California with her family, where in 1956

she married Charles Sharpe. In 1958, they began their family. Moving to Bakersfield in 1963,

they spent the next 25 years raising their 3 children. During this time, Carol started an in-home

preschool and continued her education to attain a Masters degree. She soon became

Department Chair of the Family and Consumer Education Dept. at Bakersfield College.

Carol was active in many forms of education and service concerning the family and healthy

communities. Her Early Childhood Education path included hands-on instruction, parent and

foster-parent training, advocacy for migrant children, faculty education, credential program

development, and conference presentations around the nation. In addition to her career,

Carol was a gifted pianist and beautiful soprano, who participated in many Starlight of Kern

Musicals, and Bakersfield choirs.

In 1989, Carol and Charlie moved into the dream home they built near the ocean in Santa

Barbara county. Here, Carol continued sharing her wisdom, music and joy through teaching and

advising at Santa Barbara City College, being involved and singing with the Unitarian Society of

SB, as well as many regional community groups and programs such as Hospice, Threshold

singers, and various other choirs. She enjoyed hosting and having their home used as a place

of retreat and community through every stage of life. She loved travel and adventure, and her

sense of gratitude and wonder, as well as her sense of humor were a blessing to her friends and

family.

Although Carol always loved the ocean, in her final years she came to also appreciate the

seasons, after a number of circumstances, (including the death of her husband, Charles

Sharpe, in 2018), led to her living with family in the beautiful mountains of Colorado and

Montana. She will continue to resonate in positive ways through those who remain and carry her

love forward: Her three children, Jeff Sharpe, Alanna Bell (Mike), Tanya Horat (John), 13

grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. For Carol, “family” was not limited to bloodline, but

extended to everyone in her sphere of influence. She was and continues to be a positive and

loving force in all of our lives, especially as her words echo in our hearts and minds: It all comes

down to love and kindness.

Celebration of Life services will be held at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, 1535 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101 Sunday, April 14th, 2024 at 2:00pm. This service will be available on zoom at https://uuma.zoom.us/j/96003638223 (Meeting ID: 960 0363 8223)

It will also be recorded and you will be able to access it, (about a week after the service), through the Unitarian Universalist of Santa Barbara YouTube channel.