Sharon Joyce (Vaughn) Lapin

Sharon Joyce (Vaughn) Lapin

Sharon Joyce (Vaughn) Lapin passed away peacefully at home in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 2, 2023.
Sharon was born in La Grange, Missouri, the only child of John Nolan Vaughn and Wilma Emma (Huebotter) Vaughn. At the age of five, Sharon and her family moved to Port Orchard, Washington. After graduating from South Kitsap High School in 1956, Sharon graduated summa cum laude from the University of Washington where she received her B.A. in Music in 1960.
Sharon entered local pageant competitions where she went on to be crowned Miss Washington. She then headed to Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the 1959 Miss America pageant, where she won the swimsuit competition and finished second runner-up as the Miss America of 1960.
Upon graduating from the University of Washington, Sharon moved to New York City to continue her musical training at the prestigious Julliard School of Music. Sharon landed her first role in New York as the homecoming queen in the production “All-American.” She went on to win roles in “Jennie,” “Oklahoma!,” “The King and I,” as well as roles in both the Broadway and film versions of “Funny Girl.”
In 1968, Sharon moved to Los Angeles where she married Byron Lapin on October 14, 1972. The couple subsequently relocated to St. Louis when Byron was needed to take over the family business, the Clayton Corporation.
The couple were active contributors to the cultural community in St. Louis. Byron served on the Board of Dance St. Louis, and both were supporting members of the St. Louis Symphony and the St. Louis Science Center’s Albert Einstein Society.
Sharon and Byron were married for over 40 years until his death on November 10, 2015.
Sharon is survived by her son Tie Su of Miami, Florida, grandson Kevin Su of Austin, Texas, sister-in-law Linda Levine of Beverly Hills, California, and an extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents John Nolan Vaughn and Wilma Emma (Huebotter) Vaughn, and her loving husband Bryon Richard Lapin.
The visitation will be held on December 8, 2023, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, Missouri. The funeral service will be held on December 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Rill Chapel, 1151 Mitchell Ave, Port Orchard, Washington, followed by interment at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bremerton, Washington.