Dollie Sharon Whitworth

Dollie Sharon Whitworth (77) passed away on September 15th, 2018 into the hands of her Heavenly Father. Sharon as she was known by her family and friends, lived an adventours life that began on August 16th, 1941 at Nativadad Hospital, which became a heritage as her mother (Bessie Ligon) served at Nativadad Hospital for 19-years. Sharon followed for almost 23-years as a registered nurse in pediatrics. Her brother (John C. Ligon III) worked as Nativadad’s on-site painter for 12-years. Sharon graduated from Salinas High School in 1959. She received “AA” as a “RN” in nursing in 1977. A few of Sharon’s achievements came through her sons John & Doug. She would follow them through their junior high and high school years playing sports. Around 1990-1991, John & Doug started racing circle track in Watsonville. Sharon would often go to the track and help with cleaning mud off the cars, or making food for the guys. She spent 20-years following John & Doug’s racing carrier, watch them race at lots of the local circle tracks around Central California. Sharon thrived in her retirement, seeking solace in her back yard, gardening and tending to her beautiful flowers. Later venturing off with her friends in the “Red Hat Society”, having lunches, playing cards, or meeting on a Saturday for breakfast. Sharon was always up for an adventure. Sharon was always close to her cousins growing up. Being close in age to Cousin Dorothy Perry, Donna Benfield and Alice Adams, they spent a lot of time together growing up here in Salinas. Sharon’s neighbors LOVED her, and she loved them. They were always doing things for each other, always looking out for each other, mutual love and respect, that’s the way Sharon lived her life. But Sharon often spoke of the past as well, our Artichoke ranch in Castroville, Twin Bridges that ran over the Salinas River, or moving into town when Hwy 1 came through where our ranch house was. Life was full of good and bad during those days. However, Sharon was known for her generosity, her laughter and joy, her quirky ways, and being a little nosey. She will always be remembered that way. Sharon was preceded in death by her father John C. Ligon II and her mother Bessie Grantham Ligon, her late husband Jimmie Whitworth and his son Terry Whitworth, Sharon is survived by her brother John C. Ligon III (Dolores), sons John and Doug Riparetti, (Marykay), Darrel (Wanda) Whitworth, Kenny (Sherry) Whitworth, Robbie Whitworth (late wife Tracy), 12-grandkids and 15-great grandkids. Private Services will be held at Queen of Heaven in Salinas, CA.