Helen Louise Koons Gearhart, age 89, of Shady Grove, PA passed away at Chambers Pointe Nursing Center in Chambersburg, PA on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Born in State Line, PA, on February 25, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Jacob S. and Elsie L. Binkley Koons.
Mrs. Gearhart was a 1953 graduate of Greencastle-Antrim Senior High School and a 1957 graduate of the former Shippensburg State Teacher’s College, where she also earned her Master’s Degree. Mrs. Gearhart began her career teaching first grade at Shady Grove Elementary School in the Greencastle-Antrim School District and later as a reading teacher and supervisor for the district. She retired in 1993 after teaching for 36 years. She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, and playing the organ and piano. Mrs. Gearhart enjoyed being active in community events such as Old Home Week, Women’s Fellowship, Greencastle Homemakers, and Y-Gradale Beta Chapter, Waynesboro, PA. She also enjoyed helping at the Shady Grove Ruritan Club activities, camping with her husband and family, and cooking. She was known to be an excellent cook, and would often cook for others and organized neighborhood picnic.
Surviving is her beloved husband of 67 years, Dale Lee Gearhart, whom she married on June 2, 1957; a daughter, Denise L. Baer (husband Charles E.) of Greencastle, PA; granddaughter, Ashley M. Baer Hopchak (husband LTC Matthew Hopchak) of Urbana, MD; and two great-grandchildren, Penelope and Lincoln Hopchak.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 11 AM at Trinity United Church of Christ, 29 East Ave., State Line, PA 17263, where Pastor Irene Pouliot will officiate. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 6 – 8 PM in the Harold M. Zimmerman and Son Funeral Home, Inc., 45 S. Carlisle St., Greencastle, PA 17225 and at the church above on Thursday, June 20 from 10 – 11 AM. Interment will follow the service in Parklawns Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the above church and address.
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