Donna Rhea Byers

Donna Rhea Byers, 56, of Newburg was promoted to glory Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, from the Johns Hopkins Medical Center in the presence of her family and friends.

Born March 27, 1954, in Carlisle, she was a daughter of Ralph V. and Lois J. Pugh Foltz.

Donna was a 1972 graduate of Shippensburg Area Senior High School and a 1975 graduate of the Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing. She then embarked on a career as a registered nurse and teacher's aide. She worked at the Chambersburg and Carlisle hospitals, as a charge nurse at the former Swaim Nursing Home and as a teacher's aide and nurse for the last 20 years at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15.

On Oct. 4, 1975, Donna married Pastor John E. Byers at Messiah United Methodist Church, Shippensburg. Donna was very involved in her husband's ministry, serving at his side through their time at Kennedy's Valley, North Middleton and, presently, the Newburg First Church of God. She was very active in several church groups, including the First Place 4 Health and the bus ministry, and she held a special place in her heart for Camp Hope. Anything that involved children's well-being was extremely important for Donna to be involved in.

In her leisure time Donna loved to cook, travel to the beach, take trips to the Skyline Drive and enter flowers and baked goods in the Shippensburg Community Fair. She loved to spend time with her own grandchildren, who were a special light in her life.

She is survived by her parents; her husband of 35 years, Pastor John E. Byers, of Newburg; three children, Jennifer Sue Byers of Newburg, John M. (Alicia) Byers of Newville and Andrew M. (Talia) Byers of Newville; two grandchildren, Anthony and Adrianna Byers of Newville; one sister, Judy K. (Robert) Shively of Shippensburg; parents-in law, Jay C. and Evelyn Byers of Newburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Newburg First Church of God, Newburg. Pastor Dale H. Miller will officiate. Interment will be in Otterbein Cemetery.

Viewing will be Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 10 to 11 a.m. at church on Monday. The viewing will take place in the church's chapel area.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Newburg First Church of God, P.O. Box 160, Newburg, PA 17240, and will be used to address handicapped accessibility needs at the church.

Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com/adv_tunnel.php" target="_blank">www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.