Florence Spalding "Dinghy" Sharp

FLORENCE "Dinghy" SPALDING SHARP, 83, of Green Valley, AZ passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. Born in Detroit, Mich., on Aug. 16, 1928.

Her parents were both doctors. Dinghy attended elementary and high school in Grosse Pointe, MI. Then attended Albion College, a Methodist College, receiving her B.A. in speech pathology. She received her M.A. degree from Northwestern University in speech & language pathology and an M.S. in audiology. Setting the way for an M.A.T. (master's in art of teaching from Oakland University at Rochester, Mich.) and an E.D.D. (education doctor degree - earned in sign language) from Oakland University, a first.

Dyslexia has caused Dinghy to have set many "firsts" - and she had taken all of her degrees orally. This "challenge" empowered Dinghy to inspire teachers and students alike to recognize and understand speech, language and communication problems and work on real-world solutions for all that needed special attention and support. She finally retired in 1991, and in 1998 made Green Valley her home.

In Green Valley, she was active in storytelling at the library, and an active member of Alpha Xi Delta, and very involved in many special efforts, including AAUW, P.E.O., Red Hat group, and she loved singing with the Valley Presbyterian Church choir.

Dinghy is survived by her husband Larry, her three children, Lee from San Diego, CA, Michael from Charlotte, N.C. and Wendy from Portland, OR, and her sister Harriett Hanchett from New York, N.Y. Dinghy's legacy lives on through her eight grandchildren and her great-grandson.

Services will be held at the Valley Presbyterian Church, 2800 S. Camino del Sol in Green Valley, on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. If you would like to make a memorial donation, please consider the P.E.O. Scholarship Fund for Cottey College, in memory of Florence "Dinghy" Sharp, 1000 W. Austin Blvd., Nevada, MO 64772.