Sharon Lee Walton

Sharon Walton was a beloved Mom, Memaw, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, and it is with heavy hearts that we announce her passing on the afternoon of June 28, 2023, at her home just as she had wished.

Sharon Lee Walton was born on August 29, 1945, in Washington D.C. to Henry “Blackie” Ogden and Harriett Natalie Watt. In 1956, her family moved to Greenbelt, MD where she grew up with her younger siblings, Diana, Tommy, and Janice.

She graduated from High Point High School in 1964; one of her classmates described her as “the prettiest girl in Greenbelt” in her senior yearbook. It is no surprise that on her 21st birthday, she went on her first date with Landon “Lanny” Walton, who would eventually become the love of her life. They married in 1975 and together raised her daughter Tamara and son Todd.

Sharon had a prolific resume as an office admin, but she is remembered most dearly by her colleagues at the University of Maryland-Global Campus (formerly UMUC) where she worked for 29 years. Former co-workers easily share their stories about the extensive plant collection in her office, but most importantly, many of them talk about how she was also willing to lend an ear and give life advice if needed.

She loved anything with flamingoes and had collected antiques. She often frequented yard sales and flea markets to hunt for treasures. She also enjoyed music; she loved Motown and tunes from the 50s and 60s the most.

But what Sharon loved the most was people. She always found the time to give back to others with zero expectations of anything in return. She loved giving gifts. Everyone in her family looked forward to the different and especially thoughtful surprises she had for them on birthdays and holidays. To those who know her well, she was incredibly generous, especially to the kids, at UMUC’s Angel Tree Program. She was a consistent classroom volunteer at her youngest granddaughter’s school where students viewed her as a firm but loving presence.

After she retired from UMUC on June 2015, she found her calling by volunteering at the Love Wins Food Pantry at Severn Run Church. She made great friends while volunteering, and it brought her so much joy to help others.

A vivacious personality with a great sense of humor, Sharon was many wonderful things to many people. Still, she will always be fondly remembered as Mom, a mother figure to many others. Not only will she be forever missed by her children – Tamara and Todd and dog Marley (aka Mr. Bubs) – and surviving grandchildren – Nicole and Oliviah. She is also survived by all of her siblings, nieces Angel, Michelle, Mary Pat, Sharilyn, and Melinda, and nephews Anthony and Michael.

Sharon Walton was also a fighter. When she and her family lost Lanny to cancer in 1993, she herself was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in November 2022 and faced numerous chemotherapy treatments with courage and perseverance. Even with the effects of her cancer treatment over the course of seven months, she always greeted everyone with warmth and good humor. Unfortunately, cancer took away our beloved matriarch on a sunny midday in June at her home in Lanham, MD where she was surrounded by loved ones who will miss her dearly.

One of the family’s few comforts with her passing is that she is hopefully reunited with her husband Lanny, her grandson Nick, her mother Natalie, and several members of the family who have left this Earth.

Memaw, you were AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME. Thank you for everything you taught us. We love you, and rest in paradise.

We are celebrating Sharon’s life on Sunday, July 9, 2023, from 12 to 3 pm at Borgwardt Funeral Home (4400 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD). A celebration of life will follow at the American Legion Post 66 on 9605 Old Laurel Bowie Road, Bowie, MD.