Sheila A. "Culver" Harbst

**Sheila A. Harbst** September 27, 1939 – July 25, 2025 Sheila Arlene Harbst, 85, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully at her daughter's home in Waverly, NY, on July 25, 2025, after an extended physical decline in her health over the last 5 years. Sheila's life was defined by devotion to her family, her abiding faith, and the countless friendships she cultivated in her nearly nine decades of life. Sheila leaves behind a legacy of love and unwavering devotion to her family.

Born on September 27, 1939, in Sayre, Pennsylvania, Sheila grew up on Wyncoop Creek Road in Chemung, NY, in her parents' farmhouse; a home filled with close family ties and early lessons in responsibility. After losing her mother at only seven years old, Sheila's strength of character and loving heart emerged early. She stepped into the role of a "mother hen" to her two younger brothers, Dale and Gary (affectionately known as Duke) caring for them alongside their hard-working father, Howard Culver.

Education was important to Sheila. She attended the one-room schoolhouse on Wyncoop Creek Road in Chemung where her Aunt Edna Culver was her primary school teacher. Sheila graduated from Athens High School at the remarkable young age of sixteen, setting the stage for a lifetime of nurturing and caring for others. Sheila always loved to read, a passion that took root in her childhood and remained with her throughout her life. Books were her quiet joy, offering comfort, curiosity, and companionship. She especially enjoyed visiting the Spaulding Memorial Library in Athens, where she spent countless happy hours exploring new stories, favorite authors and visiting with the wonderful women who work there, no doubt bragging about her grandchildren every time she visited the library. Her love of reading was a gift she passed down to her daughters, creating a shared bond over books that became a lasting part of their relationship. It was one of the many ways Sheila nurtured not only minds, but hearts.

Sheila's professional life was shaped by her love of people and her welcoming spirit. She spent several years greeting everyone with kindness and a smile at Rea & Derick Drug Store in Sayre, PA, where her genuine warmth made every customer feel like family. She later provided invaluable support for many years as a medical secretary in the Ophthalmology and Internal Medicine Departments at the Guthrie Clinic in Sayre until her retirement. Sheila was loved and respected by all the doctors she worked for, her co-workers and the multitude of patients she interacted with over the years.

Sheila was the epitome of true class, known for her impeccable taste and timeless fashion sense. She was always dressed to the nines, her outfits carefully curated and perfectly accessorized. A matching scarf, an elegant lapel pin, tasteful jewelry, and a coordinated purse and shoes were hallmarks of her signature style. Whether at a casual gathering, a family function or a formal event, Sheila carried herself with grace and sophistication, leaving a lasting impression wherever she went.

Everyone who knew Sheila loved her. Her friendships were deeply important to her, and she nurtured them with great care. Throughout the years Sheila was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Valley Council of Republican Women. She cherished her lunch outings, daily phone calls, and regular get-togethers with dear friends, family members and former classmates. Always ready for a meaningful conversation, Sheila's warmth and kindness lit up every room she entered.

A woman of strong faith, Sheila was a longtime member of the Athens Presbyterian Church, but her favorite spiritual home was the Emory Chapel Baptist Church in Waverly, NY, where her brother Gary (Duke) Culver ministered. One of the watershed moments in her life was her adult re-baptism by her brother, Duke; an event that deepened her faith and pride in her family.

Above all else, Sheila's greatest joy and enduring passion was her family. She fiercely loved and supported her daughters - Stacey, Heather and Dana and her greatest role was that of being a beloved "Nan" to her grandchildren. Sheila never missed a special moment in their lives. Her bottomless pride in her grandchildren was legendary - she would share their achievements with everyone, including family, friends, neighbors, mail carriers and even the cashiers at Walmart, Tops, and JC Penney's! If there was someone around her, even a stranger, Sheila would strike up a conversation that would undoubtedly lead to her bragging about her grandkids! Nothing brought Sheila more joy than her cherished role as "Nan." Her grandchildren were truly the light of her life, and she celebrated their every achievement. She never missed a school function or a sporting event. She was at every soccer game, football game, track meet and wrestling match, year-round. If her grandkids were competing, you could bet she was in the stands cheering them on. She wasn't just an avid cheerleader for her own grandkids but for all their friends and teammates, as well. Sheila had a gift for making everyone feel special. "Nan" became a title worn with honor far beyond her family-her daughters' friends, her grandchildren's friends and teammates all adored her too; a testament to her generous, kind, loving nature. Sheila embodied the true spirit of a proud mother and grandmother-and if the dictionary had an entry for that, her picture would surely be front and center.

Sheila is survived at home by her husband of 59 years, Daniel Harbst; loving daughters, Stacey Harbst Owen, Heather Harbst, and Dana Harbst; sons-in-law Charles Owen and Stanley Morley; her treasured brother and sister in law, Dale & Sharon Culver; her adored grandchildren: Joshua Owen, Rebecca Rosenberger (Matt Cranford), Danielle Burkhart (Kyle Kuzma), Austin Burkhart, Cooper Robinson, Lexi (Christian) Murray, and John (Arian) Morley; great-grandchildren: Evangeline, Andrew, Josephine and Hazel; sister-in-law Margaret Culver, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law James (Kelly) & Mary Ann Harbst, Joseph & Vivian Harbst, John & Donna Harbst, Nancy & Larry Yost, Grace Harbst and Wilmer Chilson; numerous special nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends whose lives she so generously touched. She joins in eternal peace her parents, Howard & Evelyn Culver, her daughter, Kimberly Harbst, her grandson Cody Daniel Owen, and her beloved brother Gary (Duke) Culver.

This loss feels especially heavy because Sheila was truly loved by everyone who had the privilege to know her. Her warmth, compassion, and radiant spirit touched countless lives. The void her family feels is immense and overwhelming-but in that space, her legacy will live on. Sheila's love, strength, and gentle kindness will be carried forward every day in the lives of her daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her presence shaped the very fabric of her family, and though she is no longer physically with them, the impact of her love will never fade. Sheila will be remembered not only for the moments she shared, but for the way she made people feel: which was seen, supported, and unconditionally loved. The world would be a much better place if we had more people like Sheila Harbst in it.

A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, from 11am to 1pm at the Lowery-Urban Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. 225 South Main Street, Athens, PA 18810. A celebration of Sheila's life will be held directly after at 1pm at the funeral home with Chaplain Linda Rogers officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you share a kind story of Sheila or offer a helping hand to someone in her spirit of unconditional love.