Vera (Vicki) Sharp, a lifelong learner and devoted servant to her family, church, foster care clients, and scores of ESL and visiting students, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 8th at the age of 95, resting comfortably at her beloved home, Paul Spring Retirement Community in Alexandria, Virginia.

Born in 1930 in Detroit Michigan, and raised in Dearborn, she was a first-generation daughter of immigrants, with Russian as her first language. After marrying, she made her home in various places including New York (Ransomville and Vestal), Michigan (Rochester, Pontiac and Traverse City), and Virginia (Fairfax, and then Springfield, and Alexandria in her later years.)

After earning degrees from her adored Alma College and then Michigan State University, Vicki embarked on a meaningful career in social work before later finding joy as a Washington, DC tour guide. Her guiding favorites included Russian-language private tours, as well as big buses of middle schoolers discovering DC, Old Town Alexandria, and Mount Vernon.​

Vicki loved gardening, nature, history, interesting people, and the arts. She was a prolific crafter and known for the beautiful details in her projects. Rooted in her faith in God, her commitment to social justice and to looking out for the least among us became the bedrock of who Vicki was and how she lived her life. She staunchly supported Democrat candidates and causes.

Vicki never stopped learning and enjoyed Smithsonian courses and traveling with a senior travel program. She took a deeply meaningful pilgrimage to her parents’ home regions in Russia. Her father’s family was Russian nobility and owned an estate near St. Petersburg, which she visited. She treasured her father’s personal memoirs—translated by her from Russian—as well as his intellectual curiosity, carefully preserving many family heirlooms and celebrating Russian Orthodox culinary traditions.​

Vicki was an early and enduring member of the League of Women Voters and also a member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides. She gave her time and talents to teaching ESL, Springfield Community Theater (working on sets and makeup) and was active with her churches in gardening, Bible study, and church life programs.​

She drew inspiration from people from all walks of life—including tour guides, church members, ancestors, clients, and caregivers—and the relationships she built with them enriched and sustained her. She will be remembered for her wit, hospitality, curiosity, compassion, and unwavering belief that every person has worth and deserves dignity.

Vicki is preceded in death by her parents, Gaspard Grunman and Nadejda Vasilieff Grunman, as well as her ex-husband, Jim Sharp. She leaves behind her cherished children, Betsy Harlow (Mark), Wendy Scaplehorn (Ken), Jody Toser (Barry), and Mike Sharp (Kim); her grandchildren Megan Cathell (Keith), Lauren Harlow (Austin), Michael Scaplehorn (Megan), Sarah Holland (Patrick), Rob Scaplehorn, Becca DuPont (Brock), Mia Toser, Maggie Sharp, and Abby Sharp; and her great-grandchildren Conner and Lila Cathell, Cal and Grace Holland, and William, Henry, and Benjamin Scaplehorn, as well as a bevy of faithful serving, guiding and church friends whom she loved to dine and debate with.​

A celebration of Vicki’s life is scheduled for Saturday, January 31st, at 1:30 p.m. at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22308.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Vicki’s name to Alice’s Kids in Alexandria (https://www.aliceskids.org/) or the Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theater (https://www.mvcct.org/)

The family would like to thank the friends and staff at Paul Spring Retirement Community for their kindness and care. 

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