Theresa Wiltrout

Theresa Wiltrout, 66, of Gettysburg, PA passed away peacefully at home on December 13, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, after an 18-month battle with metastatic breast cancer that she faced with remarkable courage and bravery.

Born on November 24, 1959, Theresa lived fully and fiercely. She was a scientist, educator, artist, adventurer, and above all, someone who saw potential in people and helped them realize it.

She earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Hood College and a master's degree in elementary education from Mount St. Mary's University. After working as a research technician at the National Cancer Institute on groundbreaking cancer and AIDS research, she made a bold choice: she walked away from the lab to reach more students, not just the gifted few. For over two decades, she poured herself into teaching biology at Frederick High School and Linganore High School, earning the Charles E. Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award in 2010, the Golden Lance Award, and Walmart Teacher of the Year. In her final year at Linganore, her seniors chose her as the teacher who shaped their lives more than any other. Former students regularly reached out to tell her she had changed their lives. She would say they changed hers.

Theresa was happiest in wild places-Yellowstone, Alaska, Africa, Antarctica-anywhere she could witness nature in its rawest, most magnificent form. An extraordinary photographer, she captured landscapes and wildlife with an artist's eye, finding beauty others would fail to see. Her photographs were love letters to the natural world.

In retirement, she dove headfirst into stained glass, transforming a hobby into a thriving business. She hand-crafted an aspen leaf ornament for every guest at her daughter's wedding-pieces that now hang on Christmas trees around the world. She created sunflowers for Ukraine, gifted her art freely, and sold hundreds of pieces online. When Theresa set her mind to something-running a marathon, mastering a new craft, learning anything-she didn't just try it, she excelled at it.

She was a woman of passion, empathy, and unwavering determination. Even in her final weeks, as cancer took her strength, she refused to surrender her spirit or her sense of humor.

Theresa is survived by her devoted husband of 40 years, Bob Wiltrout; her daughter, Kelsey Hyberg and son-in-law Sean Hyberg; and her adored grandson, Reece. She leaves behind countless former students, friends, and family members whose lives she transformed simply by believing in them.

A celebration of life will be held in January 2026. Details will be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing a scholarship fund in Theresa's name. Information for contributions will be available at her Facebook page in the coming weeks. Theresa Wiltrout