Sharon Rettig Vincent, age 93, of Mansfield, OH passed away quietly Friday, June 19, 2026 surrounded by family.
Sharon was born March 17, 1933 in Liberty Center, Ohio, but spent most of her school years in Washington Court House, Ohio, and kept in touch with classmates for the remainder of her life.
Sharon lived in West Palm Beach, Florida; Columbus, Ohio, then Cincinnati, Ohio; retired to Centerville, Ohio, and later to Otterbein Senior Living in Lebanon, Ohio for a dozen years before moving to Wedgewood Estates in Mansfield, Ohio for the final three years of her life.
After starting her medical career in nursing, she returned to school in 1962-1965 obtaining a Medical Technology degree at OSU. She then worked two years in a laboratory in Florida. Wanting to advance her career, she returned to OSU, completing her Master of Science in Microbiology in 1969. Sharon worked in the OSU labs for a year, then was hired as a supervisor in the micro lab at University of Cincinnati for twenty-five years. There she also taught classes and for many years after retirement, she continued her interest in lab work through membership in the South-Central Association for Clinical Microbiology.
Sharon enjoyed animals, volunteering at the Cincinnati Zoo for 20+ years. She was an elder in Clifton’s Emmanuel Presbyterian Church while in Cincinnati, and then was active in the Centerville United Methodist Church with the Walk to Emmaus Ministry and was a member of the bell choir. She continued playing in bell choir after moving to Otterbein where she was also involved in bible study. While at Otterbein she was instrumental in starting a volunteer health check program for independent living residents. Through all these varied involvements, she kept in touch with many friends and extended family by cards and phone calls, and was always at family gatherings.
Sharon is survived by her two brothers, John (Jack) F. Rettig (Sue) and Stephen Rettig (Margee), as well as nieces and nephews, Kathleen (Steve) Race, Erin (Nick) Massara, Jon Rettig and Brian Rettig. She also enjoyed her grand-nieces and nephews Sophia Massara, Joel Massara, Hannah (Austin) Clark, and Mary (Geoff) Ross, as well as their children Tobias Ross, Eva Clark, Lincoln Ross, and Micah Clark.
She was preceded in death by her son Mark, her parents Walter and Mary Rettig, nieces Kelly Rettig, Michelle Rettig, and nephew Layne Rettig.
The family plans a graveside committal in August at Washington Court House, Ohio Washington cemetery. Contributions to honor Sharon’s life may be made to the American Bible Society or SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center of Dayton, Ohio.