Sharon B. Camp died late in the evening on Friday, March 26, while at home in Red Bluff. Even at the end she was holding the hand of her husband and partner of more than 60 years, Pastor Scott Camp III of Bridgeway Community Church.


She was 80.


The disease MSA (Multi System Atrophy) had taken her strength but yet seemed to reveal even more of her natural beauty, her deep peace and the essence of her, which, as friends and family attest, was pure love and deep faith in her Lord Jesus Christ.


Born Sept. 2, 1940 in Huntington, West Virginia, she attended both Alderson Broaddus College and West Virginia University, studying nursing and zoology, respectively. A dark-eyed brunette beauty, people often told her she resembled a young Esther Williams. In 1961, she married her lanky, basketball-playing boyfriend Scott, who she'd begun dating while they were still high school students in Charleston. They married secretly at the courthouse in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, on March 17, 1961, and then had their "real" wedding on Sept 1 back in West Virginia, which fell on the day between their 21st birthdays.


By the mid 1960s, she was a military wife with a toddler named Scott IV and a newborn called James in tow, navigating expat life in Augsburg, Germany, where Scott was stationed as an Army lieutenant. After serving, the couple returned stateside and had another son, Thomas (T.M.). The family moved to California in 1974, first to the Dublin area and later to Southern California.


Sharon often said she was by nature an introvert, one who loved, among other things, good books (Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose was her all-time favorite novel) and a black cup of coffee in the morning (preferably without anyone talking to her before she'd finished that first cup). Whatever was in disarray she wanted to place in order, whether it was a towel rack or the life of someone in need.


That intelligence, compassion and talent for organizing took her many places. While living in Orange County, Sharon worked for years as a political consultant and fundraiser for the GOP. She was integral to the planning and fundraising for the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, serving as executor of the library's Grand Opening. (In the process, she met five presidents, including Nixon himself).


At Promise Keepers, the evangelical organization founded in 1990 to help men and families to lead lives of integrity and faith, Sharon served as administrative assistant to the Vice President of Church Relationships. In that capacity she traveled all over the country setting up pastor's conferences. She also played a key role in planning one of the largest events ever held on Capitol Mall in Washington, DC, where estimates of about 1.25 million men came to DC in October 1997 for a one-day event to pray for revival. On site, she was responsible for integrating security measures between DC Police, the National Park Service and private security.


But Sharon would have said her lifelong commitment was not to career but to serving the Lord in her Christian faith, her family and the man she loved.


Raising three boys -- who would grow into wildly different but equally talented men -- people would sometimes ask Sharon if she wanted a daughter. She'd reply, "No, then there'd be a little princess taking up all the attention, and I'm the queen now!"


Yet while she had no "natural" daughters, she was a spiritual mother to generations of women seeking to be godly, and who looked to her for guidance on everything from Scripture to her secret for always looking like a million bucks on a T.J. Maxx budget. Indeed, she was seen by all who knew her as the epitome of charm and femininity, the kind of woman who always had her nails done, her hair impeccably coiffed and her skin flawless. She enjoyed girls' lunches, shopping trips and road trips all over California with different ones of her "daughters."


She had a very unique superpower, all who knew her agree: She had the uncanny ability to make everyone feel like they were secretly her favorite. As her goddaughter Katie Chattan noted of Sharon, "She made me feel seen, accepted and loved as I was at that time, and for every moment after." She never left a conversation without saying "I love you" in that soft West Virginia accent of hers. Through her example so many learned the true nature of grace, and forgiveness. She offered a shoulder to cry on, an ear that would listen, a space of unfailing acceptance.


But it must be said that she was not perfect. Her vices included enjoying one-too-many marshmallow Peeps at Eastertime, binging on the trashy "Real Housewives" TV franchise and drinking so much Starbucks coffee that the baristas on Adobe Road knew her by name (Her order? Caramel macchiato).


She is survived by that high school sweetheart of hers who she had loved all the days of her life, as well as their sons and wives: Scott Camp IV and Sally Camp of Santa Cruz, CA; James "Jimmy" Camp and Samantha Dunn-Camp of Orange, CA; and T.M. Camp and Keeley Geary of Grand Rapids, MI. Also nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Scott V and Kaity Camp, with Scott William VI (age 4) and Emmaline Camp (age 2); Connor Donley; Mitchell Camp; John Camp; Jesse "Scout" Camp; Samuel Camp; Julia Camp; Calico Camp, Benen Camp and Sophie Camp. There is also much extended family, church family and the family of friends treasured across decades, who will mourn her passing but celebrate her life.


Services are slated for Saturday, April 3, at 10:30 a.m at HighPoint, 625 Luther Rd. A reception will follow at Bridgeway Community Church, 345 David Ave, under the canopies.


The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations made be made to Faithworks, 345 David Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080, c/o Bridgeway Community Church.