Sharon Kay Romero
June 7, 1944-May 5, 2024
Pleasanton, California
The family of Sharon (Sherry) K. Romero want to announce the passing of their beloved mother and sister on May 5th. Sherry will be remembered for her strength, wonderful sense of humor, artistic talent, angelic voice, and notable love of her family, friends and dogs. While she passed away peacefully, she also endured a lengthy 12-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.
She was born in Washington, D.C. to her parents, Isabel and Howard Latimer during World War II. Her father was a pilot and lost his life in a plane crash just weeks after little Sherry was born. Isabel moved back to her parent’s home in Ohio for support in caring for her daughter. Several years later, Isabel met a handsome Navy officer named Paul Rundall. Paul also had a young daughter, Sandra, who was only four years older than Sherry. Isabel and Paul fell in love and married in 1950. They later moved to Arlington, Virginia. Paul went on to adopt Sherry and give her his name. Two years later her brother, Dennis, was born only to pass away from a congenital heart defect 7-weeks after birth. After 4 years of marriage, Isabel and Paul welcomed their third daughter, Kay.
In 1956, the Navy transferred the family to a beautiful island in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii. Older sister, Sandra, came to live with them at Pearl Harbor. Sherry attended her early high school years in Honolulu and was there when Hawaii became our 50th state.
Paul retired after 30-years of naval service and moved the family to California. Sherry attended her final year of high school in Hayward, California. She was a member of the first graduating class of Mt. Eden High School in 1962. She went on to attend Beauty School and became a licensed cosmetologist and beautician. In 1963, she met a handsome young man from across town by the name of Ralph Romero. During that time, she went on to compete in the entry level Miss California pageant where she became the first runner-up.
Ralph and Sherry married in July 1964 at the Oak Knoll Naval Chapel in Oakland. They bought their first home in Hayward and welcomed their first child, Paul, in 1966. 18-months later their second child, Mark, was born. In 1971, their third son, Ryan, arrived. Sherry and Ralph were very active with their high school friends and were avid water skiers and golfers. The family moved to Chicago in 1972, but returned to Pleasanton in 1974 where they set up roots in Pleasanton. The couple built two homes on Foothill Road while spending time with their boys on the soccer fields, tennis courts and in 4-H. Sherry stayed active with her large group of girlfriends playing tennis, making crafts and painting.
In 2009, she lost her husband, Ralph, to ALS after 45 years of marriage. She carried on independently with the help of her family and friends until she moved to Folsom in 2018 to live in a memory-care facility.
Sherry is survived by her three sons, Paul and wife, Kathleen, of Brentwood, Mark of Pleasanton, and Ryan and wife, Alisa, of Folsom; five grandchildren, Jessica, Jacob, Jared, Isabella and Julia Romero and her sister, Kay Rundall Wilhite of Pleasanton.
A memorial service will be held at Valley Community Church, 4455 Del Valle Parkway in Pleasanton on Friday, June 21 at 11:00 a.m. Immediately following the service, a Celebration of Life gathering will be held on-site. If anyone is interested in making a charitable donation in Sherry’s memory to help fight Alzheimer’s Disease, please visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org.
