Sharon Lou (Whitmill) Schweinhagen

Sharon Lou Schweinhagen, age 83, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 16, 2023, with her family by her side. Sharon was born in Toledo, Ohio, on August 26, 1939, to the late Laverne and Alice (Hutchison) Whitmill. She was preceded in death by her sister, Kate McCormack (Whitmill); her brothers Richard and George Whitmill; her in-laws, Erwin and Alta Schweinhagen; and son-in-law Donn Deniston. Sharon is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years, Dale Edward Schweinhagen, daughters Linda Deniston, Norma Armstrong, Mary Schweinhagen, Dalene Arrington, and sons William (Mary) and Timothy (Diane) Schweinhagen, 15 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Sharon lived in Toledo, Ohio, for 30 years, Tipp City, Ohio, for 8 years, Chicago for 20 years, and Florida for 20 years before moving back to Dayton 5 years ago. She raised six beautiful children and enjoyed watching their families grow and seeing all her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was a secretary for L.T. Ball middle school, in Tipp City, Ohio, for 5 years and an executive secretary with American Country Insurance Co. for 15 years.

Once retired, she had a business together with Dale, “Dalron,” where Dale made beautiful woodworking pens and more while Sharon made beautiful jewelry and painted wood pieces. She enjoyed traveling to the various art shows to display and sell their work.

Sharon was an avid knitter and quilter. Most of her projects (several hundred) were donated to the church. These included booties, hats, and blankets for newborn babies. She also made hats, mittens, and sweaters for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the leader of her church group in Florida, the Busy Bodies in the Resurrection Lutheran Church. The group made hundreds of quilts for World Relief, firemen, policemen, and others. They also made stuffed teddy bears to comfort children coming into emergency rooms. Sharon served as a volunteer for Florida Hospital, amassing over 7,000 hours. She truly led by example the joy and rewards of volunteering and donating her time and talents.

She also made beautiful and often personalized quilts for Dale and her children, as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She taught the joys of knitting, quilting, sewing, and crafting to many of them.

Sharon had a very full life doing all the things she enjoyed: special trips with Dale - fishing excursions, white water rafting in the Colorado River, New England fall color tour; playing her organ. In addition to her knitting and quilting, she was an avid reader, loved fishing with Dale and her grandchildren, loved to play cards and games (she was smart and won a lot!).

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Saturday August 12, 2023, at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 6430 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45459

11:00 Calling hour (visitation with friends and family)

12:00 Service

1:00 Luncheon

Sharon requested contributions in her memory to:

American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org or

Alzheimer’s Foundation: www.alzfdn.org