Obituary - Sharon Ruth Obitts Sims
Sharon Ruth Obitts Sims, 87, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2026, in Henrico, Virginia, surrounded by her daughters and many of her beloved grandchildren. Born on February 25, 1938, in Denver, Colorado, Sharon lived a life marked by music, love, curiosity, and a gift for making everyone around her feel welcome and valued.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Emerson Obitts and Shirley Sirois Obitts, her brother David Obitts, and husband Lynn Lee Sims.
Sharon is survived by her brother Stanley Obitts and his wife Dorle, sister-in-law Dena Obitts; four children: Devyn Farley, David Sims, Dayle Mayers, and Danelle Sims; her grandchildren Karen, Rachyl, Becky, Dylan, Blake, Zelda, Jacob, Eric, Ashley, Kathryn, Sophia, Clelia, and Joe; and her great-grandchildren Rebekah, Paul, Audrey, Hadley, Emsley, Ashby, MJ, Thomas, Caleb, Juliet, Diana, Maxine, Kirk, Jonah, Nora, and Levi. She also leaves behind countless “fur babies,” whom she loved deeply and spoke of often with joy and affection.
A lifelong musician, Sharon majored in Music at Wheaton College, graduating in 1960—the same year she married her college sweetheart, whom she called “Bo,” and began a life as a military wife. Gifted with perfect pitch and an extraordinary musical memory, she could hear a song once and play it back effortlessly, adding her own flair along the way. She played piano and organ in churches throughout her life, accompanied services without sheet music, yodeled for fun, and even dressed up to play accordions for injured soldiers in hospitals. Music was not just something she did—it was who she was. Music always remained her most fluent language. Seated at a piano, she was fully herself—inviting requests, instantly recognizing melodies, and expressing joy through sound. These moments became treasured gifts to those lucky enough to share them.
Sharon was a warm and generous host, famous for gathering family together—especially at Thanksgiving—and for creating a home filled with food, laughter, animals, and music. She welcomed everyone as an equal, without judgment, and made each person feel seen. Her love showed up in thoughtful ways: a Barbie left on a pillow for visiting grandchildren, later replaced by Stephen King paperbacks as tastes evolved; patient afternoons waiting at Claire’s; Jeep rides with the sides down; and countless moments of quiet encouragement.
She had a mischievous streak and a wonderful sense of humor. If she caught your eye, she might give a knowing look and pump her eyebrows, as if sharing a secret just between the two of you. Her low guffaw laugh, playful gestures, and favorite phrases—especially a lovingly intoned “goodness gracious”—are forever etched in the hearts of those who loved her. She delighted in calling her granddaughters “pretty girl,” talking to everyone she met, and finding joy in the ordinary.
Sharon was adventurous and curious, riding horses in her youth, camping at Cape Hatteras (even when the tents flooded), traveling with friends and family, and always eager to be among people. She had a deep compassion for animals, especially stray cats, and taught that kindness through action—rescuing strays, playing with pets, and loving them as family.
Her creativity extended beyond music. She captured countless family moments behind the camera, preserving memories of gatherings, everyday joy, and beloved trips to the Outer Banks. Through both music and photography, she showed her family how she saw the world—with warmth, humor, and love.
She was also a devoted gardener with an almost magical ability to coax life from the smallest cutting or sapling, patiently nurturing plants gathered from all over the world into thriving beauty at her home. Her family remembers her spending long, peaceful hours tending azalea bushes in the backyard, tending an Aspen tree she carried from Colorado that still grows at their Graff Court home in Virginia, and tropical flowers brought home from Hawaii—living proof that, in her hands, anything could grow and flourish through love and tenderness.
Above all, Sharon’s life was defined by love—steadfast, unconditional, and unwavering. Her children and grandchildren never doubted it. No matter the circumstance, her love remained constant and sure.
Sharon leaves behind a legacy of music, laughter, faith, kindness, and togetherness. Her absence will be deeply felt, but her influence lives on—in songs still played, animals still rescued, family traditions still gathered around, and love that continues, unchanged.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a local animal shelter or to Caring for Creatures, in honor of Sharon’s lifelong devotion to animal welfare.
