Frances Evelyn Sharp
is honored with a Brick from Keren R. Keesling
Evelyn Sharp graduated from Wichita University in 1933 with a degree in music. She spent her first three years of college at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. Evelyn’s younger sister, Ruth , started college in 1932 also at Wichita University.
Evelyn was born December 7, 1912 in Caldwell, Kansas. She is the fourth child of Olive and Carl Sharp. Evelyn graduated from Caldwell High School where she played on the girls basketball team and sang in the girls Glee Club.
Her first job was in a small town in Kansas teaching music, English , Spanish, coaching drama and assistant coach of the girls basketball team at the high school Evelyn’s second job was in a German Mennonite Community with a student enrollment of 200 where she taught vocal music and English. Here Evelyn had a mixed chorus of 105 and a girls glee club of 55-60 again at the high school level. She then spent on year in Kiowa, Kansas and then moved to Salina, Kansas where she had several high school vocal groups.
In 1946, Evelyn and a friend traveled to California during the summer. She was offered a job in the Downey Junior High School teaching nothing by vocal music. During her tenure in Downey, her responsibilities grew as she was name the co-ordinator of music for all secondary schools and was later Chairman of the District Music Departments in addition to her teaching responsibilities. Later she served on the Board of the Southern California Vocal Association.
In 1958, Evelyn began taking classes at Long beach State College at night in counseling while working on a Master’s Degree. She received her Masters Degree in Secondary Administration and in 1960 became the Dean of Girls at Downey Junior High. Before long she was serving on the Southern California Region Board of the State Association of Women Administrators and Counselors.
Evelyn was asked to join Delta Kappa Gamma, an International Organization for Women Educators with at least 5 years of successful teaching experience. She retired from Downey Junior High in 1973.
During her years in California, Evelyn traveled to Western Canada and Alaska, Eastern Canada, Mexico and spent six weeks in Western Africa – Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria.
In 1976, Evelyn moved to Sun City, Arizona. Evelyn joined Chapter BY of P.E.O. She was active in Delta Kappa Gamma serving as President from 1982-84. During this time she did a lot of needlepoint, decorating her condo with her needlepoint pictures.
Evelyn is a much loved aunt and cousin. She has touched the lives of numerous young people who still come to visit or write to her.
Evelyn’s sister, Ruth Sharp Keesling, is also honored in the Plaza of Heroines.
