Wanda Spence Reid

PALMYRA - Wanda Spence Reid, 89, passed away Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, at Londonderry Village, in Palmyra.

Wanda was born Nov. 18, 1931, in Dayton, Ohio, a daughter of the late Theodore and Pearl Spence. She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, John H. Reid, in 1995.

Wanda graduated from Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, in 1953, and married John H. Reid in 1954.

After settling in Elysburg, they raised their three children, Jane, Spence and Gail. While in Elysburg, Wanda taught elementary school for seven years and then served as classified advertising manager for the Shamokin News-Item daily newspaper, owned by the Reid family. In 1987, Wanda and John moved to Hershey and Wanda became the business manager of the Hershey Chronicle and Elizabethtown Chronicle, also owned by the Reid family. Upon John's death in 1995, Wanda became the publisher of both weekly newspapers until her retirement in 1999.

Wanda played an integral role in the communities in which she and her family lived. She served as a director of the Southern Columbia Area school board, in Elysburg, and was active in many local organizations in Hershey, including the League of Women Voters, the Hershey Library, Hospice of Central PA, the Mohler Senior Center, the Hershey Rotary Club, the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society and the PA Newspaper Association, taking on various leadership roles throughout her tenure.

She was active in St. Mark's Lutheran Church, in Elysburg, serving as a Sunday school teacher, and at Derry Presbyterian Church, in Hershey, serving as an elder.

In addition to her formal community involvement, Wanda treasured her family, especially her six grandchildren, who cherish the memory of time spent together in her home and her attendance at their many sporting events, dance recitals, school plays and other functions throughout their childhoods and into adolescence.

Wanda leaves behind a large and loving family, including her three children, Jane Waldeck (widow of John), of Carlisle, Dr. J. Spence Reid (Maureen), of Hummelstown, and Gail Wagner (David) of Harrisburg; six grandchildren, Ryan Reid (Molly) of Dallas, Meghan Ramos (Angel), of Philadelphia, Lauren Brant (Jesse), of Biglerville, Katherine Reid, of Philadelphia, Kristen Waldeck, of Middletown, and Michael Wagner (Katrina), of Hummelstown; three stepgrandchildren, Moriah Kelley, of Hummelstown, Erin Kelley, of Philadelphia, and Sean Kelley, of Philadelphia; and eight great-grandchildren, Tyler, Ephraim, Naomi, Reuben, Caleb, Malachi, Cyrus and Reid.

REID - Wanda Spence Reid, 89, of Palmyra. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 at Palmyra Church of the Brethren, 45 N. Chestnut St., Palmyra. In lieu of flowers, donate to the charity of your choice in honor of Wanda S. Reid. Send online condolences at www.hooverfuneralhome.com.