HOCHSTETTLER, Sharon Ann (Sherri)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, November 03, 2013 Sharon Ann Hochstettler ("Sherri") Sharon Hochstettler passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 29, 2013, at the age of 76. Sherri was born on Aug. 29, 1937, in Toledo, Ohio. She grew up in Findlay, Ohio, the only child of Arthur and Bonnie (Brookhart) Kerentoff, both deceased. As a high school sophomore Sherri met her future husband, David Hochstettler, when they found themselves assigned to the same homeroom at Findlay Senior High. After dating through high school and college, Sherri and Dave married in 1958. They recently celebrated 55 years of marriage and 61 years of love, trust and joy. After high school, Sherri attended Wittenberg University and North Central College before graduating from the University of Illinois in 1961. She later received her master's degree from Arizona State University. Sherri's professional career began in 1958, when she was employed to teach kindergarten in Warrenville, Ill. She later taught in primary grades in Tuscola, Ill., Harvey, Ill., Germantown, Ohio, Phoenix, Ariz. and Syracuse, N.Y. After being certified as a reading specialist, Sherri returned to Arizona in 1972 and taught in the Prescott Unified Schools until her retirement in 1997. Her assignments sometimes took her to Dexter and Lincoln schools, but most of her work as a special reading teacher was done at Washington Traditional School. A pioneer in the use of computer-assisted instruction, Sherri established the first computer lab at Washington School. Students there often thought of her as "the computer teacher." Near the end of her career, she returned to teaching her favorite students: kindergarteners. Beyond Washington School, Sherri taught classes in reading and classroom computing for Yavapai College and Northern Arizona University. She often presented at regional and national conferences, trained teachers in school districts around Arizona, and was active in several professional organizations. Sherri is survived by her husband Dr. David Hochstettler, who remains in Prescott. Her surviving children are son Dean who lives in Phoenix; daughter Amy (Hochstettler) Culver who lives in La Canada, Calif. with her husband David Culver and children Garret and Courtney Culver. Sherri's extended family includes relatives throughout the country and beyond. Sherri's favorite times were family times: holidays, ski trips, camping and travel. She read avidly, loved bridge games and treasured her many friendships. A celebration of Sherri's life will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, at the Mountain Club Clubhouse, on Clubhouse Drive, off White Spar Road in Prescott. Light refreshments will be provided. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in the name of Sharon Hochstettler to the Prescott Unified School District. Please visit www.heritagemortuary.com to sign Sherri's online guest book. Services entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary. Information provided by survivors.