January 2001                                                        The Megaphone                                                                    Page 3

   Sharon (Benedict) Hurst (aka Angel # 2) is a native Elwoodite who returned to her roots recently after living in Skullville on Egg Harbor, New Jersey, Kansas City and Texas. She and her husband Joe have 3 children: a daughter Robin and sons Bob and John; they also have 7 grandchildren. All of their offspring still live in Texas, and Sharon says she "doesn’t get to see them nearly often enough."

   She graduated from Elwood High School in 1953 and then attended Ball State University where she studied to become a Medical Technician.  She later studied nursing at Menorah Medical Center in Kansas City beginning in 1965.  After working in the field of medicine for 25 years, Sharon retired following a stroke in 1987.

   But saying that she retired is really not true. Sharon has since then kept busy in a variety of pursuits. Along with being a Panther Den moderator, Sharon enjoys knitting and crocheting. She found out about the Den site from Loretta Dodd.  Sharon says she was too busy to look, but finally Loretta wore her down, and, once she checked the site out, she "became hooked."

   Sharon has formed a cancer awareness group called Robin’s Rest in honor of her daughter. Both Sharon and her daughter Robin are breast cancer survivors.  Robin’s Rest is part of the Community Relations Department at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital. The group has brought an early detection program to Elwood and has a Resource Center on South A Street in what was the J.D. Connors Building.  Working with representatives from the Nancy G. Koman Foundation, Sharon is trying to bring grant money to Elwood to be used for education and treatment programs about Breast Cancer. It is easy to tell from listening to Sharon that this is a cause that is very close to Sharon’s heart.

   Sharon also works with the Elwood Main Street Committee, which is trying to revitalize and improve the uptown area of Elwood. Sharon is working with the Elwood Sesquicentennial committee for the town’s 150th birthday, which is coming up in 2002. She also sings in the St. Joseph’s Church Choir.

   And finally Sharon says that she is a member of Kiwanis and works with the Historical Society. She says, "I stay very busy since it helps me deal with the fact that I am a 4 year survivor of breast cancer and Robin is a 2 year survivor."

Genie (Forst) Boyer '60