Ruth H. (Otto) HELLER

OTTO, HELLER, VOSS, MANGES, REESE, KING, MUIR, PELTON, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/4/2012 at 12:27:33

April 14, 1918 --- January 3, 2012

Mrs. Ruth H. (Otto) Heller, 93, of 9090 Anthony Highway, Waynesboro, [Pennsylvania] died at 7:15 A.M., Tuesday, January 3, 2012 in the Chambersburg Hospital. She had been in failing health. Born April 14, 1918 in Goldfield, IA, she was the daughter of the late Lewis B. Otto, Sr. and Hilda M. (Voss) Otto. Mrs. Heller graduated from Eagle Grove High School, Eagle Grove, IA, with the class of 1936. She later graduated from Shippensburg Teachers College with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Education in 1941. She and her husband, the late Clyde E. Heller, were married on June 8, 1946 in Mercersburg, PA. They moved to the Anthony Highway address in 1950. Mr. Heller died on June 24, 2009. Mrs. Heller started her teaching career in a one room school in York County. In 1948 she started teaching at Biesecker's Gap School, near Waynesboro. She later taught at Mowrey Elementary School, Wayne Heights Elementary School, and Summitview Elementary School, Waynesboro retiring in 1980. She mostly taught first grade. She also taught for 10 years in a private kindergarten for a total of 35 years of teaching. She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Waynesboro, where she was a member of the Augsburg Sunday School class and taught Sunday School for a number of years. She was also active in the Sewing Bells group of the church and served on various committees for the church. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, the Franklin County Retired Teachers Association, the Cumberland Valley Antique Engine and Machinery Association, the Quincy Ox Roast, the Mont Alto Senior Center, and the National AARP. Mrs. Heller enjoyed volunteering at the Quincy United Methodist Home, working in her garden, and knitting.

She is survived by two children, Gerald E. Heller and his wife Susan of Zullinger, and Joyce A. Manges and her husband John of Quincy; five grandchildren, James A. Reese, Jr., Trevor A. King, Brittany A. King, Emily D. Muir, and Stephanie D. Manges; two great-granddaughter; two sisters, Charlotte M. Pelton of Biglerville, PA and Florance K. Williams of Carlisle, PA; two brothers, Lewis B. Otto, Jr. of Waynesboro, and Robert F. Otto of Carlisle; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Nancy M. King who died on May 9, 2008; and one brother, Boyd W. Otto.

Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, January 7, 2012, in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 43 S. Church Street, Waynesboro, with Rev. Dennis Beaver, officiating. Burial will follow in Quincy Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Friday evening, in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad St., Waynesboro and one hour prior to the services, Saturday, in the parlor of the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Evangelical Lutheran Church, 43 S. Church Street, Waynesboro, PA, 17268 or Lutheran Home Care and Hospice, 2700 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA, 17202.

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