Kay Lynn Orth

Kay Lynn Orth, 79, of Elizabethtown, PA, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Masonic Village.

Born on September 11, 1946, in Harrisburg, PA, she was the daughter of Clark and Catherine “Kitty” Creager.

Kay Lynn is survived by her sons, Tim (Bridey) and Greg (Jackie); her grandchildren, Hannah, Gavin, Mason and Mitchell; and great grandson, Lucas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clark and Kitty Creager, and her beloved husband of 57 years, Wilson “Fred” Orth, III.

Kay Lynn graduated from Elizabethtown College in 1968 with a degree in home economics. She had married Fred the previous year, and during his military service, they lived in several places around the country before settling down to raise their family. Kay Lynn worked as a children’s librarian in Middletown until retiring to spend more time with her grandchildren.

A devoted wife, mom and Nana, Kay Lynn put family at the center of her life. She and Fred enjoyed church, board games, card nights with friends, and camping with their church group. As a mom, she supported her boys in whatever interested them and laughed at all their jokes, even the bad ones (there were a lot of bad ones).

Kay Lynn filled her grandchildren’s summers with fun and a little learning along the way. There were library trips and satchels of books, field trips, packed lunches, McDonald’s and plenty of visits to Knoebels. She loved treating her grandchildren, even after they were grown.

An accomplished quilter with a sharp creative eye, Kay Lynn was also an avid reader who loved a good phone conversation and had an easy way of connecting with people. After moving to personal care in her last year, she joined a book club, helped plan a few outings and enjoyed crafting with new friends. She was quick to laugh, generous with encouragement and always ready to listen. Most of all, she took care of her people and made sure they knew they were loved.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 398 N Locust Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Visitation will be from 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.