Gloria M. Harbach

WAVERLY, NY - Gloria Maye Schadt Harbach, 90, formerly of Williamsport, passed away on February 17, 2023 at the Elderwood Nursing Home in Waverly, NY. Born on May 1, 1932, she was the daughter of the late John W. and Twyla M. Poorman Schadt.

Gloria was married May 31, 1954, in Williamsport to John W. Harbach, of Loganton, who predeceased her in 2012.

She graduated from Lock Haven High School, Thompson Business College in Harrisburg, and the Williamsport Area Community College.

Gloria retired from The Williamsport Hospital. She began working there in 1959 as a bookkeeper clerk and at the time of her retirement in 1991, she held the position of Controller.

She served as treasurer for the YWCA Board of Directors and was active in a number of genealogical societies, including the Centre Co. Genealogical Society, the Clinton Co. Genealogical Society, the Lycoming Co. Genealogical Society and the Sugar Valley Historical Society. In addition to being an avid genealogist, Gloria enjoyed cross stitch, building exquisite dollhouses and collecting miniatures. She lent a hand to many projects of a genealogical nature such as reading cemeteries, compiling indexes, and acquiring and typing cemetery records, church records and diaries.

Gloria’s many accomplishments have been remarkable considering that she began losing her hearing at the age of 7 and was profoundly deaf in adulthood without amplification. She taught herself lip reading at a young age to aid in communication and at 15 she obtained her first hearing aid.

Gloria is survived by her daughters, Cinthia Fairbanks of Granville, NY and Joyce (Charles) Trudeau of Waverly, NY; her son, John (Lynn) Harbach, of Waldorf, MD; her granddaughters, Shannon Harbach, Megan (Samuel) Raymond and Shelley (Jereme Young) Fairbanks. Also surviving is her sister, MaryLee (Theodore) Wentz of Martinsburg, as well as nephews and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Gloria was predeceased by her brother, Robert Schadt; her son-in-law, Eugene Fairbanks; her nephew, and her great grandson, Jamie Raymond.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sugar Valley Historical Society or the Clinton Co. Genealogical Society.

The funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb., 22, 2023 at the Helt Funeral chapel, 232 Hogan Blvd., Mill Hall.

Friends and relatives will be received on Wednesday from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the funeral chapel.

Burial will be private at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Mill Hall.