Sharon VanWagenen Fairbanks Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Sharon VanWagenen Fairbanks, eternal companion, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend was called home to our Father in Heaven Tuesday January 15, 2019, after a long and enduring battle with dementia and various complications of that disease. She was surrounded by her family in love and great affection. She was born on April 13, 1950 to William Dean and Betty Jean VanWagenen in Salt Lake City, Utah. She married the love of her life, Douglas Larry Fairbanks on October 9, 1968 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were blessed with four children: Michelle (Mark) Owen, Kimberlee (Tim) Blackham, Jeremy (Andrea) Fairbanks and Jacob (Kaily) Fairbanks. Sharon was a pure soul who had an endearing quality to anyone and everyone she met. Above all, she loved spending time with her family, being a homemaker, and was faithful in her testimony of Jesus Christ. She personified faith, hope, charity, and love in how she lived her life. Sharon served faithfully in many church callings, including Ward Relief Society President, Stake and Ward Young Women’s Presidency, Primary Presidency, and Nursery Leader. She and Larry served a mission in the Addiction Recovery Program throughout the Heber Valley for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was very involved with her children in their education including PTA President at Oakdale Elementary and Union Middle School, and many other volunteer activities. Throughout her life, Sharon loved to travel. In recent years and confined to disease, she loved going on long car rides with Larry. They would hold hands, listen to their favorite music, and reminisce on their lives and how blessed they had been. She is survived by her husband, four children, and sixteen grandchildren. Three siblings: Jeanne (Frank) Larsen, Bill (Deb) VanWagenen, and Lois (Jim) Hibler. She is preceded in death by her parents, father and mother in-law; Douglas and Ruth Fairbanks, and sister in-law; Renee Moore. A viewing will be held on Monday, January 21, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Funeral services will begin Tuesday, January 22, 2019 with a viewing from 10:00 to 11:30 AM followed by the funeral service at 12:00 noon. Address for viewing and funeral services: LDS Stake Center located at 165 North Center Street, Midway, Utah.

Sharon VanWagenen Fairbanks

April 13, 1950 - January 15, 2019