Sharon Rose Jones (Ringelspaugh), 82, passed away on September 23, 2024 at her home in Valrico, Florida. She was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, Aunt, Great Aunt, Meemaw, Aunty and Grammy. Sharon's life revolved around her family and her love for them was boundless.

Sharon was born in Piqua, Ohio on July 24,1942 and was a cherished daughter to Gerald and Kate Ringelspaugh. Her parents said that she was a happy child with thick reddish blonde hair who walked and talked at an early age. Just 11 months after Sharon's birth, her younger sister Cathy arrived.

During World War II, Gerald served in the United States Army Signal Corp and was stationed overseas. While he was away Sharon, Cathy and Kate, along with a cousin, Virginia, lived with their grandmother in Piqua while he was away. He left before Cathy was born and they did not see him again until she was 2 years old. Life was difficult then, like in all households in America but upon Gerald's return they bought a house and began living their lives like all young families do. About 9 years later another sister, Linda, came along.

In pursuit of new opportunities all 5 family members moved to Florida and shortly after they moved another girl, Nancy was added to the brood to make it a total of 4 girls. Gerald was seriously outnumbered. The family lived in St. Petersburg when they first arrived in Florida but then settled in Tampa. They lived in various houses included one they referred to as "the chicken coop". They finally moved into a house that Gerald built with his own 2 hands on a cash only basis so it was piece by piece over a period of time. All 4 girls often talked about how they, and their friends, loved the fact that they could color on the temporary cardboard walls during the construction. It was a 2 bedroom house and the girls shared one room. As a result they developed a very close bond, in spite of the age difference of 11 years from the oldest to the youngest. This bond has lasted throughout the years and exists to this day. They have traveled all over the country on their annual "Sisters Trips" for the past 15 or so years. Always having fun no matter where they went. They often took their cousin Virginia with them as an honorary "sister" as well as they all grew up together.

Sharon attended Chamberlain High School in Tampa and graduated in 1960. GO CHIEFS!!!! She was a member of the Y-Teens Club and the Girls Exchange Language Club. She was a B+ average student who loved science and English but hated math. Socializing with friends was a staple of her high school experience and Friday nights often consisted of going to dances at the Rec Center or hanging out with friends. She had a "high school sweetheart" by the name of Gilbert but he attended a different school so they only saw each other after school and on weekends. After Sharon graduated high school she and Gilbert married and had 3 children. The marriage lasted about 7 years and they separated and soon divorced.

Sharon was a single mother of 3 small children for a few years and through the help of her family she was able to make a life for herself and her children. A few years later Sharon met a man that at first she was not sure that she liked but then realized that she was head over heels for. She fell in love with James W Jones and they married in 1969. They had a daughter about 1 year later and with the 4 children from James' previous marriage and 3 from Sharon's they settled down with a large blended family. Another son came along years later as well. Sharon and James never referred to any of their children as step or "hers and his". They were all their children and they could not be more proud of them than they were. Sharon and James were married for 48 years, until his passing in 2017. Sharon adored James and continued to love him to the day she died. She often talked about him and about how much she loved him and missed him. She often referred to him as the love of her life.

Sharon worked in the airline industry for 25 year before a change by her employer resulted in her returning to school. She obtained her RN license in 1993 and then her BSN a few years later. She worked for over 20 years in the nursing field as a hands on nurse in a cancer care center, as a nursing supervisor as well as a nurse Case Manager. She was loved by her colleages, employees and patients alike and her management always knew that she was the go to person to get things done. She has a large circle of friends both from the airlines and from her nursing career as well as from the various neighborhoods she has resided in over the years and even a group of high school friends that she still has contact with. She loved working in both the airline and medical field and just retired a year ago at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy of care and friendship.

Sharon has a total of 9 children, 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and even a few great great nieces.

Sharon is survived, and celebrated, by her children, Deborah Jahnigen, Mike Jones (Carolina), Susan Seals (Damon), Mark Jones (Maria), Kim Delgado-Jones (Christina) and Kyle Jones. She is predeceased by her parents (Gerald & Kate Ringelspaugh), husband (James W. Jones) and younger sister (Nancy Johnson). Additionally she is survived by her beloved sisters Cathy Ringelspaugh and Linda Smith (Larry), brother-in-law, Alan Johnson and sister-in-law, Shirley Jones.

A Celebration of Life will be held on a Saturday, October 26, 2024 with a Visitation at 10am followed by a Service at 11am at Hodges Family Funeral Home Zephyrhills. The family invites everyone to join them in honoring the remarkable life of Sharon, a woman who dedicated herself to her family, friends and the community.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Sharon's name to the American Cancer Society as a remembrance to her beloved sister, Nancy, or to The Alzheimer's Association as a remembrance to the love of her life, James.