Sharon Rilling

Sharon Joyce Warner Rilling, daughter of Cecil Warner and Mary Smith Warner, born on November 3rd, 1939, went to meet her Lord on December 25th, 2021.

Sharon was born in Republic, Kansas and was raised in Mankato, Kansas, graduating from Mankato High in 1957.

Sharon moved to Wichita, Kansas with her family, and worked at Roy's Restaurant and Honey Bee Doughnuts. In 1962, Sharon and her sister Marilyn moved to California and stayed with their aunt before moving to Inglewood, California, where she worked at a Foster Freeze and attended El Camino College where she graduated with an AA degree.

Sharon wanted to become a Los Angeles Police Department Policewoman and entered the LAPD academy on Feb 4th, 1969. After graduation, she worked at various divisions of the PD and while working at Harbor Division, she met Jerry Rilling who would become her future husband.

On Dec, 2nd, 1976, Sharon married the love of her life, Jerry Rilling, in Hawaii. As a married couple, they opened the Rusty Hook fishing tackle store, and several years later, began a light manufacturing business on Gaffey street in San Pedro. During this time, Sharon also attended Pepperdine University and graduated with a BA in Public Administration.


Sharon and Jerry loved traveling and visiting schoolmates, family, National Parks, and out-of-the-way places, i.e., Alligator, Mississippi, and Sharon never passed a lighthouse that was open to the public.
Sharon is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Jerome (Jerry) Rilling; her two sisters Marilyn Begnaud and Joan Sillyman, Nieces: Tammy, Sherri, Denice, Nikki (Engenio), Michelle (David), Amber (Chris), Nephews: Sonny, Chris (Lydia), Darren (Christina), Step-son: Jerry Jr. (Grace), Grandchildren: Erick (Amy), Kyle (Lauren), Sarah (Andy), Melyssa (Matthew), Jeff (Kate), and 10 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Sharon desired that donations be made to Rolling Hills Covenant Church, marked for the Children's Ministry.