Mildred P. Scharpenberg

Mildred “Millie” Pauline Scharpenberg (Blankenship) died peacefully in the comfort of her home on Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Anaheim, CA at the age of 88. Millie is survived by her three children: Cathy Patino (Scharpenberg), Carl Scharpenberg and Caren Bowers (Scharpenberg). She is preceded in death by her husband, Chris A. Scharpenberg, and her siblings: Paul, Roy and Ralph Blankenship, and her sister Catherine Nilsen (Blankenship). Millie was born on Sunday, November 8, 1931, in Winslow, AZ to Pearl Elmo Blankenship and Corinne Vivian Blankenship (Potts). She graduated from Whittier High School and then went on to receive a B.A. degree in Home Economics from Whittier College. She began teaching at a Junior College in the area. She was very active in her church as a young person and throughout her entire life. A blind dinner date was facilitated by Millie’s favorite professor who orchestrated this dinner with Chris’s mother to have Millie and Chris meet on January 8, 1955. They dated for four months. On May 21, 1955, Millie told Chris, yes, she would marry him. They wed on Thursday evening, August 25, 1955, at Calvary Christian Church, Whittier. Soon after marriage, Chris’s employer, Standard Oil of California moved Millie and Chris to Ventura for approximately 4 years. Ventura County was a wonderful blessing for the couple. They were able to adopt their two oldest children, Cathy and Carl. After adding Carl to their family, Chris was transferred to La Habra, which became their chosen city and where they set up long-term home ownership for 50+ years. Millie began her career as a homemaker and dedicated mother. Within two years they added their third child, Caren. Millie raised her three children in a Christ-centered household. She was extremely active at Temple Baptist Church of La Habra, which included singing in the church choir for 25 years and teaching Sunday school for 2nd and 3rd graders for 30 years. Additionally, Millie loved to entertain Chris’ business associates in their home, participate in the PTA, lead her children’s scouting activities and each Sunday she prepared a large Sunday family meal. Chris passed away in 1984, from a sudden heart attack. Over the next 36 years, Millie held steadfast in her faith and poured into her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. Millie traveled extensively; she had the opportunity to visit six of the seven continents. She even toured and sang in Europe’s cathedrals with her church choir. Millie transitioned to a new church, Eastside Christian Church, in 2000. She instantly got plugged into a senior community group where they consistently traveled and hosted potlucks. Additionally, she worked at Décor Party Supplies in La Habra, where she worked for nearly two decades. In 2012, Millie sold her La Habra home and moved to Anaheim next her youngest daughter, Caren. Millie was introduced to NiuNiu, one of her greatest loves of her life, in 2013. Throughout the last seven years of her life, she continued to pursue the Lord and provided leadership for her family through consistent prayer, love and generosity. She provided such hospitality to anyone who entered her home and hosted many holiday festivities. Millie had a way of making people feel special and seen. She had a gentleness about her that could only be explained by the closeness that she had with Jesus. Millie knew Him well and was sure to share that with her family. She was a treasure to her family, friends, and anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her (a national treasure). A graveside service is scheduled at Memory Gardens in Brea, CA, with a Celebration of Life reception to follow at a later date. The family would like to thank the caregivers for supporting her during her last years. Silly Millie will be greatly missed.

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Mildred P. Scharpenberg

November 8, 1931 - March 15, 2020