Rev. Sharon Peters

Rev. Sharon Fitch Peters, age 68, of Sharpsburg, Maryland passed unexpectedly on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at her home.

She was born November 11, 1943, in Wellsville, New York, to the late Ephraim Schley and Irene May (Holaday) Fitch.

The Fitch family relocated to Valparaiso, Indiana when she was eight years of age. After graduating suma cum laude with a B.A. from Hanover College she moved to Washington DC to teach math at a local junior high school. She met her husband, David, in DC and together they raised their three children. She worked part-time for the county school system teaching students who were hospitalized or homebound for emotional or physical reasons.

While in her thirties, Sharon was called to the ministry and attended Wesley Theological Seminary. During her final year at Seminary, Sharon worked at Capitol Hill Presbyterian, participating in the full range of ministerial duties and involvement in neighborhood mission. Just prior to her graduation, she served as a resident chaplain at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland. In December of 1984, Sharon was ordained at her home congregation, Northwood Presbyterian Church, in Silver Spring.

Upon completion of her residency, Sharon served as a Parish Associate at her home congregation and was Interim Director of Pastoral Care at Children's Hospital Center.

From 1985 until 2007, Sharon served as Chief Executive Officer of the Pathways Schools in Silver Spring, Md. Under her leadership the school was a pioneer in special education both regionally and nationally. In 2007 she was nominated for the Achievement Initiative for Maryland's Minority Students Community Excellence Award. She was an inclusion candidate for Who's Who Among Outstanding Americans and participated in Leadership Montgomery. After retirement, Sharon served as Chaplain at Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village in Boonsboro and at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown.

Sharon was a Community Excellence Award Nominee with the Maryland State Department of Education and received an Excellence Award from Crosswood, Inc. in Silver Spring. She was a founding member of the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health and worked as an advocate for the arts in education having received numerous Washington Post and Maryland Arts council grants.

Sharon's community involvement included serving on the board of Association of Professional Chaplains and of Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities. Locally, she was a board member of the Sharpsburg Heritage Festival, a member of the Sharpsburg Historical Society, and a volunteer with the Lions Club of Sharpsburg.

Sharon is survived by her beloved husband, David H. Peters; her three children, Todd D. Peters and wife Jennifer of Germantown, Md., Laura C. Peters, and Melinda I. Peters and husband Noah J. Pearcy, all of Richmond, Va.; her two sisters, Claire F. Zimmerman of Bourbonnais, Il, and Arlene J. Elliott and husband Wayne of Valparaiso, In.; and her brother Walter S. Fitch of Anderson, In. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren and many other family members.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 10813 Donelson Drive, Williamsport, Md. Rev. Mark A. Sandell will officiate. Final resting place ceremonies will be held at 3 p.m. following a time of fellowship at the church.

Friends are invited to visit beginning at 12 noon on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at the Bast-Stauffer Funeral Home, 7606 Old National Pike, Boonsboro, Maryland, where the family will be present to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Donations in memory of Sharon may be made to The Pathways Schools, 1106 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20902, or Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village, 8507 Mapleville Road, Boonsboro, Maryland, 21713.