Prem Shanker Sharma , age 94, October 1, 1921 to March 25, 2016

Prem Shanker Sharma who was affectionately known as "Chacha Ji" was born on 10-1-1921 to Ganga Prasad Saraswat and Bhagwan Devi in Aligarh, India, to a large family with 5 brothers and 2 sisters.  His only surviving sibling is his youngest sister in India.

After graduating from high school, he underwent training to be a teacher and started teaching at an elementary school in Ajmer, India, where he retired as the principal after 35 years.  He influenced a lot of students, many of whom became teachers.  He was a passionate educator and very devoted religious person and touched the lives of many who knew him.  He recently traveled to India in March 2015, where he was visited by not only many of his students but also their family members who all wanted to meet him and see who had inspired their parents.

He and his wife came to this country in 1981, and he embraced the American way by learning the language, driving a car, and even working for an additional 10 years after his retirement in India.  He arranged for the rest of his family to come here in 1993 who totaled 8 children: 4 sons and 4 daughters, 21 grand children, and 17 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by Vidya Devi Saraswat, his wife of 73 years who recently passed away January 4, 2016, whom he is joining now.

Service will be 12:30 pm Saturday March 26, 2016 with cremation to follow at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Sri Ganesha Temple in Nashville, TN, or the charity of your choice.