Marian Louise (Strine) McElwain

Obituary for York Daily Record and Aegis (Harford County, MD)

Marian Louise (Strine) McElwain, age 89, was received into Gods’ loving hands on Friday, August 7, 2015. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at the Masonic Village Health Care facility in Elizabethtown, PA where she had lived for 22 years. Her husband Robert Wiley McElwain preceded her in death by one year. Prior to residence at Elizabethtown, Marian lived in New Park, (York County), PA.

Marian was born on August 18, 1925 in Emigsville, PA, daughter of Daniel S. Strine and Irene E. Zumbrun. She was a graduate of North York High School (Central High School) in 1942. She was an executive Secretary at Penn Dairy until her marriage to Wiley McElwain on April 30, 1949. She was the mother of three children, farm wife and active in farming organizations such as 4-H.

At age 33, she began studies at York Junior College finishing with a business education degree from Elizabethtown College in 1967. She subsequently received a Master’s Degree from Shippensburg University. Marian was a business teacher at Susquehannock High School from 1967-1971 and at Kennard Dale High School from 1971-1987. As a teacher, she was an innovator starting a program at Kennard Dale in which the business students completed projects from the community which gave them valuable real work experience. She taught court stenography to advanced students. She learned Basic and Cobal computer languages in order to begin the transition from typewriters to computers within the school system. She was recognized for excellence in teaching and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma teachers’ sorority. Marian was also a member of Order of the Eastern Star, Triangle Chapter, in Shrewsbury, PA.

In retirement Marian continued to use her skills in teaching and business. She was active in the literacy program teaching reading to adults and as the secretary of the residents association at the Masonic Village. At the Masonic village, Marian and Wiley volunteered in the health care center wheeling residents to therapy and daily activities. She continued her education taking classes offered at the Masonic Village and at Elizabethtown College. She wrote short stories of her childhood memories. She produced a Heritage cookbook of favorite Strine and McElwain recipes.

Her greatest joy was cooking for her family and helping out wherever and whenever she could. She would often make the food when family chores were completed on the farm or in the bee yard. She taught thru example the value of self-reliance, hard work, helping others, strength and perseverance thru adversity. She would take a meat loaf, stew or fresh vegetables to her children’s homes where they would find the laundry folded and the dishes washed when they returned home. She enjoyed literature, music, and poetry. As she lost her vision, she enjoyed listening to talking books and being read to by family and caregivers.

Marian McElwain is survived by her sister, Mary Strine Buchart of York PA; and three children Daniel R. McElwain and wife Patricia (Leight) of New Park, PA, Ruth Anne (McElwain) and husband Lloyd Snyder of White Hall, MD, and Carl N. McElwain and wife Mary (Miller) of Dillsburg, PA.; grandchildren, Kristina (McElwain) and husband Gregory Wilt of New Park, Heather (McElwain) and husband Scott Houser of Thomasville, PA , Laura Snyder of White Hall, MD, Alicia (Miller) Poff and

husband Jason Poff of York, PA and Scott Miller of Dillsburg, PA; great grandchildren, Wiley and Emma Wilt, Katie, Mason, and Allie Houser, Jake and Jackson Poff; nephews Jim Tyson, Scott Buchart and Tom Vinup and nieces Barbara Elliott, Mary Hair and Joan Vinup.

Following cremation, a “Memorial Service To Celebrate Marian’s Life” including Eastern Star service will be held Sunday August 16, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at Centre Presbyterian Church, 83 New Park Road, New Park PA. 17352. Visitation to follow the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Miller-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 North Market Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Masonic Village Hospice Program, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA, 17022.  Condolences and memories may be shared at www.millerfuneralhome.com

 Service Information