Barbara Millhouse

Barbara J. (Schalk) Millhouse, wife of Kenneth D. Millhouse of Lancaster, PA, passed away on Saturday, February 7th at Penn State Health Medical Center of Lancaster.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Ellen (Carrigan) and William F. Schalk, Sr. Her father owned and operated "The Mart" which not only sold groceries but also had a soda fountain and sold ice cream and sandwiches. Friends kidded her by calling her a "soda jerk" as she dipped ice cream, made milk shakes and ice cream sundaes from age 10 through her teens.

Also, during her teen years, she loved to dance and roller skate. She combined the two by becoming a member of a skate/dance team at Maple Grove Skating Rink.

Barb was a graduate of Penn Manor High School, Millersville. Immediately following high school, she was employed for quite a few years at Bell Telephone, Lancaster as a long distance/directory assistance telephone operator returning to Bell twice after the birth of two children. After the birth of her third child, she again returned to the work force and her familiar voice could be heard at the switchboard at Hamilton Watch Company on Columbia Avenue.

She was also employed for many years at the former Watt & Shand, downtown, as an executive secretary. Her last place of employment was with the County of Lancaster Behavioral Health in the Fiscal Dept of the Administrative Office where she also assisted in personnel and payroll within the department. She opted for early retirement during the year 2000. Two months after retiring she was asked to return to the agency part-time where she worked for 12 more years having worked for the County 25 plus years. Barb and her husband also owned and operated a business in Wildwood, NJ from 1986 until 1999.

Barb and Ken loved dining out and going to different restaurants with their friends. She loved to travel, read and bake. Their favorite places to vacation in the winter were the Keys in Florida, especially Key West. However, Savannah, Georgia, Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina were high on their list also. The New England States and Niagara Falls, Canada were favorites in September and October. Barb's aunt, Emily Carrigan Clark, was a high school librarian and taught her to read before she enrolled in kindergarten, thus her love of reading. As for baking, her New York cheesecake was a favorite at family and friends gatherings.

Barb regularly attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Millersville.

Survivors include her devoted husband, Ken; three daughters, JoAnne Brennan, Deborah Sabatine and Kelly Nye, six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; and several cousins in Annweiler Am Trifels, Germany, her father's home town.

Preceding her in death in addition to her parents was a sister, Suzanne Schalk; her maternal grandparents, whom she adored, Emily (Young) and Edward E. Carrigan; her beloved aunts, Emily Carrigan Clark, Elizabeth Shell and Esther Kunze.

During Barb's illness, her caregiver was her husband Ken and daughter Deborah.

Funeral services are private and at the convenience of the immediate family.

Kindly omit flowers.

Contributions may be made in Barbara's memory to Lupus Research Alliance, 275 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10019.

This organization meant a lot to her as she was diagnosed with Lupus in 1968 and battled the ravages of the disease day-by-day. Contributions may also be made to Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Dewald Funeral and Cremation Service.