Daisy K. Reiter, 79, a beloved wife, mother, educator and friend to many, of Philipsburg, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 at her home.
Born Aug. 25, 1936, in Lewisburg, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Clark B. Zimmerman and Maude E. (Bensinger) Zimmerman.
She was a 1953 graduate of Lewisburg High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the Pennsylvania State University in 1957.
Throughout her time at Penn State, she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She was an elementary school teacher for 26 years. She taught in New Cumberland and Hershey, Pa., and in Topeka, Kan.
The majority of her career was spent teaching 23 years at the former Wallaceton-Boggs Elementary School for the Philipsburg Osceola District. She retired in 1997.
An adored teacher, she kept in contact with hundreds of her former students before and after her retirement.
She was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Philipsburg, where she sang in the church choir and was a member of the church council. She was a member of the Valley Voices.
She enjoyed exercise, writing, knitting, Penn State football and spending time with her family and her dog a Golden Retriever, Luke.
In 2015, she authored Cora, It’s War, a historical fiction novel based on her experiences as an eight- year-old girl living in Lewisburg during World War II.
She had recently spent a lot of time promoting her book at talks and signings at various historical societies and at Penn State University.
On June 3, 1978, in Lewisburg, she married Edward P. Reiter of Philipsburg, who survives.
Also surviving are four daughters, Elizabeth A. White of Castle Rock, Colo., Kathryn M. Ellis and her husband, Dr. Thomas Ellis of Boalsburg, Annie M. McCarty and her husband, Dr. David McCarty of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Amy M. Reiter of Plymouth, NH and two sons, Edward Reiter and his wife, Lisa Reiter of State College and Russell Reiter of Roanoke, Va.
Also surviving are a sister, Elva M. Fritz and her husband, Harry of Lewisburg and a brother, Dr. Clark B. Zimmerman and his wife, Christine of Parker, Colo. Her surviving 10 grandchildren are Katie Reiter, Nick Reiter, John Thomas White, James White, Halie Ellis, Karley Ellis, Annie Ellis, Matt Reiter, Josh Reiter, and Quintin McCarty.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Lorraine Grenoble.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 215 Laurel St., Philipsburg.
In lieu of flowers, she has requested memorial contributions to be made to Emily Whitehead Foundation (www.emilywhiteheadfoundation.org); First Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 377, Philipsburg, PA 16866; Honor Therapy and Assistance Dogs Inc. (ann@HonorTherapyDogs.org); or Military Families Ministry (www.militaryfamiliesministry.com).
Online condolences to the family may be made at www.dahlgrenfuneralhome.com.
She lived her life to the fullest and she was so loved. Until we meet again, Daisy…. Until we meet again, Mom…
