Helen Atherton

Helen Jean (Peterson) Atherton, 83 of Dry Run, departed this life on the evening of Friday, February 22, 2019, at the Chambersburg Hospital.

She was born on May 11, 1935, in Willow Hill, a daughter of the late William Harold and Lydia Lorene Dunkle Peterson and was a 1953 graduate of Fannett High School. Jeanie married John S. Atherton on June 27, 1970, in Hagerstown, MD.

Jeanie worked as a beautician out of her home from 1966 until 1978. She called it Jean’s Beauty Shop. She would also work, fixing people’s hair, at the Agett Funeral Home during that time as well. Jeanie eventually came to work as the secretary at the District Magistrate office, retiring in 1995, after seventeen years of employment there.

Along with her career as a beautician and Magisterial District secretary, Jeanie was also a wonderful homemaker, raising a large family. She became the rock of her family and her family was at the center of her life in all that she did. Jeanie was an excellent cook and she could also sew so masterfully that she would make whatever it was she was sewing look just like new again. She also had such an amazing green thumb that she could make just about anything grow. Jeanie was very knowledgeable about so many things, that it could be said that she knew a little bit about a lot.

Strong in her faith, Jeanie was a member of the Spring Run United Methodist Church and attended the Shady Pine Mennonite Church. She played the piano at church, was a soloist for weddings, was a “Secret Sister”, and attended bible study. During her life she read the Bible, front to back, seven times.

In addition to her husband of forty-nine years, John, she is survived by five children, Ronald ‘Jimmy” Daihl and wife Amanda of Dry Run, Donald “Donnie” Daihl of Mt. Green, Cynthia E. Keller and husband Brian of Newburg, Kathy J. Hutchison of Roxbury, and Michele J. Reed and husband Thomas of Spring Run; thirteen grandchildren, Ronnie, Liza, Tyler, Marshall, Clayton, Wade, Joel, Shayla, Lacey Jo, Brandon, Caleb, Micah, and Abigail; eight great grandchildren; five siblings, Janet Humbert, Jim Peterson, Lena McMullen, Jackie Monninger, and Linda Sites; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Jeanie was preceded in death by her first husband, Tucker Daihl, who died in 1965; one granddaughter, Alyssa Daihl; and two brothers, Donnie S. and Carl “Chub” Peterson.

Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at the Shady Pine Mennonite Church, Willow Hill. Pastor Marlin “Butch” Neil will officiate. Interment will follow in the Upper Path Valley Cemetery. Viewing will be Wednesday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church.

The Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., Shippensburg, has been entrusted with her funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.