Virginia Mae “Jen” (Kite) Sharp laid down her burdens and exited this life on April 3, 2018 in Joplin, MO. Jen was born on June 2, 1933, in Gate, Oklahoma and spent her younger years in a sod house on the Oklahoma prairie. With her older sister, Emma Jane and brother, Gilbert Edger (Bud) the family moved to Rocky Comfort, Missouri to escape the “Dust Bowl”.

Virginia was a graduate of Rocky Comfort High School, and soon after graduation married Kenneth G. Sharp from Litchfield, Illinois. This marriage would survive for 61 years.

The two had a son, Kenneth Wayne and together they would build the foundation of Sharp’s Import Auto, also known as Sharp’s Bug Shop on 20th Street in Joplin. During this period Jen worked for over twenty-five years at St. John’s Hospital as an X-ray technician.

Virginia and Ken both survived the huge Joplin tornado that attacked the city. The business did not. They were found amidst the wreckage of their business and their home, left with nothing but each other, having lost everything they had worked for. With continued hard work and perseverance, they were able to rebuild that business to exceed its former capacity. Illnesses then took a toll on the family and the business was sold upon the death of their son, Kenny in 2015.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth on February 17, 2013, son Kenny, her parents, J.L. (Lace) Kite and Elmo J. (Brown) Kite of Rocky Comfort, her sister Emma Jane (Kite) Phelps of Rocky Comfort, MO and brothers Gilbert Edgar (Bud) Kite of Carthage and George L Kite of Carthage, MO.
Virginia is survived by her sister, Ella Louise (White) and husband, Dwayne White of Lee’s Summit, MO Kelly Dean Kite and wife Cathie of Minden, NV; daughter-in-law, Linda and two Grandsons, Mason and Casey Sharp of Joplin and numerous nieces and nephews.

Virginia is to be taken for cremation and a graveside committal of ashes has been scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 8, 2018 at Rocky Comfort Cemetery in Rocky Comfort, Mo.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

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