Bobbie Lou Calabro

Bobbie Lou Sharp was born May 7, 1939, in Cullman, Alabama to E.C. Sharp, SR and Sarah Ella McAlpin Sharp at home on the family farm. Her brother Emory had campaigned for the name Bobbie Lou as there was a girl in his class with that name, and he thought it most beautiful. Apparently, it met with approval because that name went on her birth certificate. Both Bobbie’s brother and sister (Jean Martin) were old enough that Bobbie was a little girl in comparison, and “Ella’s Baby” (well, Eller’s Baby as Bobbie would say, as it did annoy her even as an adult) stayed with her Mother on the farm, while her Father went to work on the Railroad during the week. The family moved to Gardendale later, and her maiden Aunt Mini stayed with them, while Bobbie was active in her local Church youth activities. Directly after graduation from Mortimor Jordan High School, she joined a Church Program called “Tentmakers” for a Year on Mission, that sent her via Greyhound Bus to Sonoma, California. Enroute, she met Carlene Spears, (from Hartwell, GA) who was also in this program.

Bobbie and Carlene found employment at Sonoma State Home, working the wards. They shared a little cottage that they rented from Josephine Ustenovich. Some matchmaking went on, and Stephen Siegel (her Grandson) was encouraged to date Bobbie, while his friend from Sonoma High (Guy King) dated Carlene. Ultimately, the foursome all ended up becoming two couples. They stood up as Maid of Honor and Best Man at each other’s weddings and traveled back home to the Bride home states of Alabama and Georgia for formal ceremonies.

Bobbie and Stephen lived in Mill Valley and had three daughters in four years. Stephanie was born in 1960. Sharon came along 13 months later in 1961. Sarah completed the family when she made her entrance in 1964. They lived in Mill Valley, California until 1970 and then moved to Petaluma. Once in Petaluma, the couple went their separate ways, with Bobbie moving on to Hawaii and then Michigan.

Bobbie was in Michigan from 1979 until 2007. She married Jack Calabro in 1986 and became a widow in 2005. In Michigan with Jack, is where she thrived and enjoyed her best life. After his death in 2005 she never was able to get her bearings again. She eventually relocated to Texas.

They say a rolling stone gathers no moss. Yet Bobbie’s apartment yielded a surprising trove of documents and photographs for her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren to go down memory lane and to remember her by also. Sarah says she had eclectic tastes and was a complicated person, as evidenced by what was discovered. We do know that she knew different people at different times that enriched her life and she in turn theirs. The mementos she kept were valued. I think she would be touched that although she didn’t get out much in later years, she still collected friends and contacts that miss her, that they also found value in having her in their life. 

Bobbie was preceded in leaving this world by her parents E.C. Sharp, Sr (Emory Chaston), and Sarah Ella McAlpin Sharp, siblings, Emory Sharp Jr. and Ima Jean Martin, first husband, Stephen S. Siegel, and husband Jack A. Calabro, Sr. She leaves behind daughters, Stephanie Siegel, Sharon Arendt (husband Ron), Sarah Burnett (husband Michael), Stepson, Jack Calabro Jr., Stepdaughter, Mary Ann Calabro, Grandchildren, Steven SiegelBrown, Caroline Siegel-Singh, Sarah Maddux (husband, Jesse, sons, Kameron, Jesse, Tobin, Noah), Erin Bargmeyer (husband, Brian, son, Ward, daughter, Jocelyn), Kimberly Roller (husband, Logan, daughter, Sharon) and several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends who were all near to her heart. She wasn’t great at always expressing those sentiments, but rest assured we can see that every kindness was appreciated. 

Thank you for being a part of our mothers’ colorful life.