Gwendolyn Burkholder

Gwendolyn J. “Gwen” Burkholder, 61 of Mechanicsburg, PA, died unexpectedly Friday morning, November 11, 2011 in the emergency room of Harrisburg Hospital. Born September 14, 1950 in Fayette County, she was the daughter of the late Robert B. Burkhardt and Carolyn Ridgeway Burkhardt, P.G.M. Following graduation from high school in Connellsville, PA she received a Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University. Gwen retired from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in June of 2007 with thirty-five years of service. She was an active member of the West Shore Church of the Brethren in Enola. She was a member and served twice as Worthy Matron of Order of Eastern Star Chapter #544 Trio and was currently a member of Order of Eastern Star #380 in Harrisburg. Gwen was also a member and current Treasurer of the Harrisburg Chapter of the D.A.R. and she enjoyed volunteering with her husband at the Masonic Home in Elizabethtown.

She is survived by her loving husband, Roy E. Burkholder, whom she married November 25, 1983; two step-children, Melissa Swartz, her husband Martin, and their children Althea and Ashley of Mifflin, PA and Kevin Burkholder, his wife Keitha, and their children Kyle and Kole of Juniata County, PA; her aunt, Dorcas Burkhardt Minick of North Carolina; and her uncle Jessie Ridgeway of Connellsville, PA. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Burkhardt in 2004. She was the last of her immediate family.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, November 15, 2011 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Edward T. Robbins will officiate. Interment will follow at Lincoln Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM Monday at the funeral home where members of Martha Custis Chapter #342 Order of Eastern Star will conduct services at 7:00 PM. Additional viewing hours will be from Noon – 2:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania, Order of Eastern Star Fraternal Fund, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.