Sharon Holland Cruden

Sharon Holland Cruden lived an extraordinary life. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. Throughout her life she had a passion for faith, family, learning, teaching, and service to others.

Born in Wyandotte, Michigan, on January 24, 1946 to Viola Brock Holland and William Holland, she was a child prodigy in music, playing the piano at 4. By high school she was the pianist for the chorus and performed the role of Anna in the musical Anna and the King of Siam. She was twice selected to attend the world-renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts summer program. Sharon was the first member of her family to attend and graduate from college. She studied at Concordia College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois and earned her degree in Music Education.

Following college, she married her best friend and the love of her life, John C. Cruden, at the Mary Martha Chapel in Greenfield Village in 1968. She and John traveled extensively while John was in the military, living in Europe six years. Her daughter Kristen was born in Palo Alto, California and her daughter Heather was born in Frankfurt, Germany. She has lived in Northern Virginia since 1986.

Sharon was a pioneer in the field of Special Education and Learning Disabilities. As one of the earliest Learning Disabilities Specialists, Sharon was a well-known educator and taught at four different colleges including San Jose State University, De Anza College, University of Virginia, and University of Maryland. After earning her master's degree in special education from California State University (San Jose), she taught at the University and then designed the first program in the State of California for college students with learning disabilities and taught at DeAnza College. At the University of Virginia, she taught a special program for visually impaired students and earned an advanced post-master’s degree for education, the Educational Specialist Degree. In Europe, she taught for the University of Maryland and ran a successful summer program in Heidelberg for learning disabled young people called Camp Funshine.

Sharon remained proud of her well-known teaching prowess and the amazing breadth of her experience, and she often said that she taught at all levels of children with special needs. She served others through teaching at every level from elementary schools to colleges, and all kinds of students from ESL (English as a Second Language) to homebound students to soldiers in Europe.

Throughout her life Sharon was also involved in a broad array of civil activities, turning her gifts and passions into blessings for others. She used her love of reading to serve at libraries and received a Fairfax County award. She took her talent and love of music and directed several church choirs in both U.S. and in Germany. She used her deep faith, knitting artistry, and leadership abilities to develop and run a Prayer Shawl Ministry. An accomplished quilter, her work is proudly displayed in homes throughout Virginia. After retiring from teaching, she still felt the call to service, and she became trained as a Hospital Chaplain. She worked with Pastoral care at both Sibley Hospital and Mount Vernon Hospital.

Sharon’s many accomplishments were only part of her extraordinary life, as she considered her best life gifts to be her daughters and their children Ryan Mason, Lauren Campbell, Jonathan Mason, and Katelyn Campbell. She had a love of travel and adventure which she passed along to her children and grandchildren. Sharon and her husband celebrated each grandchild’s tenth birthday by taking them to a National Park of their choice for a week. Sharon loved exploring God’s creation; hiking, camping, and exploring. She and John visited the majority of National Parks in the United States and went on amazing adventures including kayaking in Canada, sailing on the Adriatic Sea, snorkeling in Galapagos, paddle-boarding in Baja, Mexico, cross country skiing in Berchtesgaden and Vermont, playing tennis in Garmisch, Germany, tracking bears in Denali, and jungle hiking in Costa Rica. She was truly a woman of all seasons, loved by many, admired by all.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Gail Holland. She is survived by her husband, best friend, and love of her life John Cruden of Alexandria, VA. She is survived by her brother, David Holland. She is also survived by her eldest daughter, Kristen Mason and son-in-law Travis Mason of Sterling, Virginia, her youngest daughter, Heather Campbell and son-in-law Scott Campbell of Yorktown, Virginia. She had four wonderful grandchildren, Ryan Mason, Lauren Campbell, Jonathan Mason, and Katelyn Campbell.

A memorial service honoring Sharon will occur on Friday, 10 am EST, May 21 and will be live streamed. You may access the service on either of the following links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTv4eAGOH1c or https://www.facebook.com/AldersgateLifeCelebrations/posts/809853836316243

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Alexandria City Parks - https://www.alexandriava.gov/LivingLandscape in Sharon’s name. Cards may be sent to the Cruden family in care of Demaine Funeral Home 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield Va. 22151.