Jane Short Hower, 92, of Elliottsburg died at 11:34 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at the Pinnacle Health West Shore Hospital, Mechanicsburg.
Born on June 30, 1923 in Oberlin, Dauphin County, she was a daughter of the late Samuel M. and Rachel (Brown) Short. On August 30, 1952, she married her late husband Donald S. Hower, Sr. with whom she was blessed to share nearly 41 years, of marriage before he preceded her in death on August 28, 1993.
Surviving are her children, Theodore Bailey and his wife Robin, of Spokane, Wash., Donald S. Hower, Jr., of Elliottsburg, Stephen S. Hower and his wife Kathy, of Millerstown; a son-in-law Eric Stewart, of Columbia; a sister, May S. Lootens, of Aberdeen, MD; grandchildren, Eric Joseph Stewart and his wife Jennifer, of Litiz, Erin Jane Stewart, of Coumbia, Elizabeth Suzanne Hower Maize, of Millerstown, Zack Bailey, of Washington; and three great grandchildren, Natasha Stewart, Hayley Stewart and Jalen Stewart .
One daughter, Catherine Ann Stewart, two brothers, Dr. William Short, Dr. Robert Short and one sister, Mabel Garner, preceded her in death.
She was a 1941 graduate of Port Royal High School, a 1945 graduate of Maryville College, TN and a 1950 graduate of Kutztown State College with a Masters degree in Library Science. She was also a member of the Centre Presbyterian Church, Loysville, where she held several positions, including elder, and adult bible class teacher for 50 years. In addition to teaching a knitting class, her other memberships include, The Pennsylvania State Retired Education Association, National Retired Education Association, Maryville College Alumni Association, the Perry County Literacy Council, where she served as former board member, volunteer and tutor. As well as serving as director, consultant and librarian for the Bloomfield Public Library. Her love of reading and writing was apparent having several articles published in a number of different magazines and having authored two books, “Seven Sisters of Our Faith” and “Stained Glass Windows of Centre Church”.
During her career in education, she began teaching secondary English in Mifflin, Juniata and Perry Counties. During WW II she chose to aid in the war effort by taking a job as an expediter at the Mechanicsburg Naval and Supply Depot. Naval shipyards in New York and Norfolk, would send messages of needed parts for damaged ships. She then sent the information to manufacturers to deliver the much needed parts. If word was received that another ship had sustained worse damage the parts would be diverted to the latter ship. Later in 1986, she retired as the librarian of the West Perry High School.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2016 from the Centre Presbyterian Church, Loysville, with the Rev. William Hambright officiating. Interment will be private in the adjoining church cemetery.
There will be no viewing; however, family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of service, Tuesday at the church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brown Funeral Homes, Inc., 100 Bridge St., Mifflintown.
For those who desire memorial contributions in Mrs. Hower’s memory may be made to the Centre Presbyterian Church, 3912 Freeman Hollow Road, Loysville, PA 17047.