Sharon S. Sutherland

Sharon S. Sutherland, 74, a lifetime resident of Elizabethtown, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Born in Lancaster, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Sollenber and Hazel White. Sharon married her high school sweetheart, Owen “Reb” Sutherland in 1970 who preceded her in death in 2009.

Sharon attended Elizabethtown Area High School with the Class of 1970 and later earned her GED in 1989 through the Lancaster Lebanon Adult Education Program. She achieved the distinguished honor of being named Adult Education Student of the Year out of a class of 170 students. Professionally, she worked in the production lab at Wyeth Vaccines in Marietta, PA, where she helped manufacture influenza vaccines.

Deeply dedicated to her community, Sharon loved volunteering and giving back. She served as the vice president of the Welcome Wagon Club of Elizabethtown, vice president of the PTO for Elizabethtown Elementary School, and field trip chairperson for East High Elementary School. Together with her husband, she cherished being a chaperone on many of her daughter’s school trips. Every holiday season, Sharon brought immense joy to the community by playing the role of Mrs. Claus in the Elizabethtown Christmas parade, as well as at local nursing facilities and Hempfield Recreation Center, famously arriving with Santa on a fire truck to greet the children.

Sharon was an active and devoted member of the Church of God in Landisville. Her passions there include serving as a greeter, working on the Evangelist and Outreach Commission, and teaching a women’s Bible study, class. For 14 years, she poured her heart into mentoring ninth through twelfth grade students at the Agape Youth Center. Of all her endeavors, she considered her greatest accomplishment to bring her five grandchildren and her husband to church every single Sunday. Sharon loved talking with friends, listening to music, writing poetry, encouraging everyone she met, and most of all, spending time with God, her family, and her friends.

She is survived by her two daughters, Trisha Templin of Hegins, PA and Tanya Root, wife of Tony, of Elizabethtown; five grandchildren, Owen and Emalee Templin, and Kayla, Ashely, and Brionna Root; one great grandson, Javi. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Carole Manning of Nicoma Park, OK; her brother, Lynn Sollenberger, husband of Ester, of Elizabethtown; two half-sisters, Jorgia Bair, wife of Barry Gunsallus of Elizabethtown, PA and Tina Urban, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September18, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Landisville Church of God, 171 Church Street, Landisville, PA 17538. Viewing will take place on Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Miller-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 North Market Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sharon’s memory to Hospice and Community Care, 4075 Old Harrisburg Pike, Mount Joy, PA 17552. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.FinkenbinderFamily.com.