Sarah Marie Whitmire

Sarah Marie "River" Whitmire, 20, died suddenly on October 12, 2021 while hospitalized briefly for a vasculitis condition. Sarah was the eldest daughter of Jamie and Molly Whitmire of Nazareth, PA. Sarah was a life-long resident of Nazareth and a 2019 graduate of Nazareth Area High School, where she was a National Merit Scholar.

Sarah was in her first year of Pharmacy School at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was a junior. At Pitt, Sarah volunteered to fight food insecurity and participated in research studying the experiences of minority students. Her fellow Pharmacy School students plan to honor Sarah at the traditional White Coat Ceremony for first year Pharmacy students, in January 2022. Sarah was expected to graduate from Pitt with a Doctorate of Pharmacy in 2025.

Sarah was passionate about art and protecting our oceans and marine life. Over the summer Sarah submitted her latest artwork titled "Many Hands, Many Threads," to the Art of Diversity Showcase held by Pitt's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Sarah's family will greatly miss her input in their discussions around the kitchen island, and her passionate stance that the world should be more kind. They will miss receiving gifts of her beautiful artistry.



Sarah was a member of Slate Belt Church in Pen Argyl, PA.

Sarah is survived by her loving parents, Jamie and Molly Whitmire (nee Weiler) and her loving siblings, her brother James Whitmire and her sister Kyleigh Whitmire. Her maternal grandparents, Art and Marie Weiler (nee Dooley) of Kresgeville, and her uncles Arthur J. Weiler, III and Peter Weiler. Sarah's cousin is Kaitlyn Weiler Napolitano, married to Chris.

Her paternal grandparents are Fred and Jeanette Whitmire (nee Brucke) of Pickens, SC. Aunts and uncles are Gary Whitmire, married to Jane, Tammy Barkley, Chad Whitmire married to Lorie, and Kim Wilson married to Harold. Sarah is preceded in death by her Aunt Kristan Massey. Sarah's cousins are Matthew Barkley, Brian Barkley, William Wilson, Aaron Wilson, William J Burkhalter, and Abbigail Massey.

On both sides of the family are many loving second cousins and great-aunts and uncles who will dearly miss Sarah.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sarah "River" Whitmire Fund for Wegener's Disease Awareness via her parents, Jamie and Molly Whitmire. A memorial scholarship fund will be created for Pharmacy School students.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date, to be posted on the Facebook page of Slate Belt Church, or inquiries can be made through the church at 610-863-9274.