Sharon Bennett, 84, of Orlando, Florida, died peacefully in her home in Orlando, Florida on September 13, 2023.
She was born February 17, 1939 in Gothenburg, NE, daughter of Edmond and Dorothy C. Aden. Sharon grew up in Gothenburg and graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1957. Shortly thereafter she moved to Denver, Colorado and became a flight attendant for Frontier Airlines. In 1962 she returned to Gothenburg where she married and gave birth to Jeffrey Scott and Suzanne Leigh Tinlin. She remained in Gothenburg until 1980.
Throughout her life, Sharon was a very talented artist and musician. She was active in the American Lutheran Church her entire life while in Gothenburg, and served as an organist for the church for many years. She also opened and ran three craft businesses in Gothenburg centered around her love for floral design and painting. In 1981 she moved back to Denver where she created, and opened, the Academy of Floral Design. This program was the first of its kind in the nation - a nationally accredited floral design college. She ran this school for 10 years. During the late 1980’s, she met her current husband, Neville Bennett and moved to Florida where she continued to teach various art forms to students in the Orlando area where she resided until her passing. Her classes and art forms included stained glass, pottery and a unique form of painting known as Oriental Brush Painting. Her love for art was only surpassed by her gift for teaching and inspiring the many students that she embraced over her 30 plus years in that endeavor.
Sharon is survived by her husband Neville H. Bennett of Orlando, FL; son, Jeffrey (Diana) Tinlin of Mokena, IL; step daughter, Susan (Dave Holtman) Bennett of Placitas, NM; grandchildren, Brandi (Joe) Wentworth of Plano, IL; Sean (Kristen) Tinlin of Avon, IN; Dillon (Nicole Brauneker) Tinlin of Kissimmee, FL; and great-grandchildren, Derek Wentworth, Victoria Wentworth and Caden Wentworth of Plano, IL; and Annalise Tinlin of Avon, IN.
Sharon was preceded in death by her daughter, Suzanne Leigh Tinlin, sister, Shirley McDonald and parents, Edmond and Dorothy C. Aden.
Memorial services will be held, Monday, October 9, 2023, 11:00 am at the American Lutheran Church, 1512 Ave G, Gothenburg, NE, with Pastor Doug Hjelmstad officiating.
Memorials may be directed to the Gothenburg Artisan Club, c/o Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, 620 10th St, Gothenburg, NE 69138.