Obituary of Sharon Bowen Bach

Sharon Bowen Bach passed to her eternal rest on June 26, 2021 as a result of a fall causing severe brain injury. 

Sharon was born in Patterson, New Jersey, on July 20, 1949 to Ella Freeman Bowen and Francis Bowen, the youngest of their six children.  Sharon is survived by her husband of 19 years, Dr. Walter D, Bach, Jr. of their home in Chapel Hill; her inherited daughters Sherrill B. Polke of Jefferson, GA, Kathy B. Denby of Marinette, WI, and Louise B. Culpepper of Marietta, GA and their husbands; eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and three nieces.

As a child Sharon enjoyed dancing and dreamed of being a Rockette in Radio City Music Hall, but that was not to be.  Upon graduation from high school, she began a career in banking in her native New Jersey and for a brief time with Wachovia Bank office in Duke University Hospital.  She moved from New Jersey to Chapel Hill in 1985, taking a position as a broker’s assistant at E F Hutton.   There, and subsequently, she built a reputation for excellence, dependability and knowledge of both broker and client needs.  Sharon retired in 2005 much to the disappointment of her colleagues.  All the while Sharon was a proud, ardent  Duke Blue Devil Basketball fan, living on the edge of every game.  Coach K could do no wrong.  She loved New York City and Broadway.  She convinced Walter he would like Broadway too and, after she took him to a matinee performance of Les Miserable, he saw her wisdom.  Soon thereafter she organized  small groups of friends for long weekends of theater, fun, and after-Christmas shopping in The City. 

Sharon always had a pet dog and a pet cat, all of which were rescued and were loved to long lives.  She discovered large animal rescue and helped support their care and humane treatment. 

Friends of Sharon are invited to join her family at a graveside service of committal will be held at 10 am on Saturday, July 10 at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Animal Park at the Conservators Center (animalparknc.org) or Animal Protection Society of Durham (apsofdurham.org)

Walkers Funeral Home in Chapel Hill is assisting the family.