Sharon Hostetler Higginbotham

Sharon Hostetler Higginbotham, 68, of Troy, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 17, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born on August 13, 1957, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Sharon spent her childhood and early adult years in Richmond, Virginia. She was the beloved daughter of John Curtis Hostetler and Mildred Meldene Stewart and was lovingly guided through life by her mother and her dad, Robert Eugene Clayton.

In addition to her parents, Sharon was preceded in death by her sisters, Linda C. Atkinson and Laura Roberts. She is survived by her devoted husband, James R. “Jim” Higginbotham, Jr.; her two children, Eric C. Dane and his wife, Julie, of Columbia and Mallory S. Higginbotham of Scottsville; her cherished granddaughter, K. Morgan Dane, also of Columbia; and her beloved dog, Beau. She is also survived by her brother, Curtis R. “Randy” Hostetler and his wife, Valerie, of Bisenti, Italy; her sister, Vicki Bennett of Akron, Ohio; her bonus mom, Barbara Walker of Akron; and an extended family of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins throughout Virginia and Alabama.

Sharon enjoyed an extensive and distinguished career in banking and finance, culminating as the longest-serving and only female Chief Financial Officer for Fork Union Military Academy. While proud of her professional achievements, Sharon’s greatest joy was her family. Together with her husband, Jim, she created a loving home filled with warmth, laughter, and memories to last a lifetime. Her pride and love for her children, Eric and Mallory, was immeasurable, and was further magnified in the love and special bond she shared with her granddaughter, Morgan, a shining star in her Neena’s heart!

Sharon lived boldly and joyfully. Notorious for her vibrant and rambunctious personality, she was known to occasionally dance on tables, enjoy a cosmo or three, and spend summer days at the beach. Sharon especially treasured the triennial family beach vacations, where she and her brother’s families packed a beach house with kids, grands, nieces, nephews, and the occasional non-family guest invited to join the madness.

Since retiring in 2019, Sharon embraced travel, exploring destinations across the United States and abroad with dear friends—the Coreys, the Guenthers, and the Szilagyis. Her life was a tapestry of adventure, laughter, and love, leaving behind a legacy of cherished memories for all who knew her.

Sharon was an active and devoted member of Bethel Baptist Church in Palmyra, Virginia. In recent years, she deepened her Christian faith through study and fellowship, building meaningful relationships with friends who shared her beliefs.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 3:00 PM at the John J. Wicker Chapel, Fork Union Military Academy, in Fork Union, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

- Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation for Cancer Care, supporting patients and enhancing the experience of care.

- Sanctuary Rescue, a local organization dedicated to medical care and placement for sick, injured, and orphaned dogs—a cause close to Sharon’s heart.

- Fork Union Military Academy, whose mission is to educate, develop, and inspire young men in a college preparatory, military-style environment.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.