Elizabeth B. Sharkey

Elizabeth (Bettylou) Sharkey beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully in Alexandria, VA, May 23, 2025, at the age of 90. Born on March 24, 1935, in Elizabeth, NJ, to Louis and Anna Brodesser. Elizabeth graduated with a bachelor's in education in June 1956 from Newark State Teachers College. She was married also in June at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY in the catholic chapel to 2nd Lt. Jack J. Sharkey, a day after his graduation from the Academy and a U. S. Air Force Officer.

Being the wife of an USAF pilot, she learned early on to handle household responsibilities. Daughter, Marianne and son, Michael John, MD, were born in Texas and Delaware, respectively, within the first three years of marriage while husband Jack completed his pilot training and began flying world-wide missions leaving Elizabeth in charge of the household and kids. While in North Carolina for Jack's primary flight training, Elizabeth taught at an elementary school in Wheat Swamp, NC. It was then off to San Angelo, TX for more flight training. Then to Florida for Advanced Flight Training for two months and then to Dover AFB, DE. A short more Jack's schooling intervened with a move to Alabama.

In 1963, Elizabeth oversaw another move, this time to Dayton, OH where life was a little bit more normal. Jack was a General's aide so Elizabeth performed her aide's wife responsibilities and tended to the growing children. In 1965, it was off to Tempe, AZ for Jack's graduate schooling. It was typical a college environment with football, bowling and keeping the household going while Jack was in class or in many hours of study and tutoring his classmates.

Elizabeth oversaw their last move to Alexandria, VA in 1967 where she started teaching and overseeing the building of her home. She had a very strong passion for teaching young children and taught at four different Alexandria elementary schools, usually at 4th grade level; her last being Polk Elementary across the street from where she lived (tough commute). She retired in 1996 after 30 years of teaching. She enjoyed the theater and taking cruises, but mostly just being retired.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband Jack, her two children Marianne and Michael John MD, grandchildren Meagan Tompson, Elizabeth and Jack Sharkey and niece, Lisa Ann Gleason Heims. She will be interned at Arlington National Cemetery after a memorial mass, followed by a "Celebration of Life" for family and friends at the Army-Navy Country Club.