Sharon Fayette Ruhf

Sharon Fayette (Miller) Ruhf, 84, of Bethlehem, PA passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, July 16, 2021 at LV Hospital Muhlenburg, to reunite with Robin L. (Ruhf) Grasic, her eldest child who passed away in 2000. Born in Sebastopol, California, Sharon was the daughter of the late Audrey (Harlow) Breeze and the late Joseph McKendry Miller. She spent much of her childhood moving around California, but was happiest when she was with her Grandmother, Jessie Mae Harlow and her “Chaney” family from her Mother’s 2nd husband. She graduated from Oakland Technical School in Oakland, CA in 1955. Her first job was “renting” pillows to Greyhound Bus passengers, despite being painfully shy, a position she acquired through her mother’s job at Greyhound as one of the first female bus drivers. She met and married Robert (div. 1977) when he was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco in 1956 and moved to Bethlehem and raise their family. She was a bibliophile. Wherever she was, so was a book; and a linguaphile. She was a student her whole life and found great joy in studying classic languages, Greek and Latin, as well as American Sign Language, which she was able to study as an employee at Lehigh University. She retired as the academic department coordinator for the accounting and law department in 1995. She also enjoyed crafting especially ceramics, had an affinity for animals and space exploration. She was a progressive woman far ahead of her time and friend to anyone without regard to color, religion or sexual preference. Sharon enjoyed volunteering and was involved with girl scouts for many years, the Order of the Eastern Star, DeMolay, Rainbow Girls, Musikfest (Oh she loved that trolley!), the Goundie House in historic Bethlehem and was a contributing member at several museums and animal rescue groups. She will be lovingly remembered as the “smartest person I know” by MANY people. She will also be remembered for learning to drive at the age of 45, her love of rain, “Shhh! Jeopary! is on”, “Son of a Bitch (slam)” and her unique way of calling us for dinner (when the smoke alarm went off). Sharon is survived by her siblings, William Chaney of Mexico and Maureen (Chaney) Dougherty of Texas. daughters, Caron of Bethlehem, Ramona (wife of Neil Beahm) of Allentown and Merideth (fiancée of Blaine Hobar) of Lehighton and a son, James of Bethlehem. Seven grandchildren, Aimee, Angela, Robert, Audrey, Aaron, Claudia and Erica and three Great grandchildren, Briella, Sarai and Ava. She was predeceased by her daughter, Robin; ex husband, Robert, longtime companion, Carl and a great grand daughter. A memorial will be held Friday, July 23, 2021, at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity at 321 Wyandotte Street in Bethlehem. Calling at 1-2pm and service at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Diabetes Association, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. The Dollar Club-Helping Animals $1 at a Time, Howling Woods Farm in Jackson, NJ, , or a literacy program near you. She will be loved and missed until the twelfth of never, and that’s a long, long time.