Helen "Ditty" M. (Zimmerman) Guss

     Helen “Ditty” Margaret Guss, 94, of Mifflintown, passed away on Monday, July 19, 2021, at her home.

     Born August 25, 1926, in Licking Creek Valley, Milford Township, she was the daughter of the late Milton and Ruth May (Sheesley) Zimmerman.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, Paul E. Guss, whom she wed on June 1, 1947, and who passed away on October 30, 2003.  Also preceding her in death were one son, Barry Guss, her daughter-in-law Gloria Guss, two brothers Calvin (Caddy) and Robert (Mick) Zimmerman, and two sisters Ruth Martz and Dorothy Booker.

     She is survived by her sons, Donald and Steven Guss, her daughter-in-law, Jeanne Guss, four grandchildren, Kasey Guss, Laurie Fetterman, Michael Guss, and Angela Guss, and six great-grandchildren, Alexis and Lucas Fetterman, Paul and Joseph Guss, and Dylan and Ainsley Guss.

     Helen worked at the Hershey Chocolate Factory making candy bars for servicemen for two summers during high school.  Following her graduation from Juniata Joint High School in 1945, Helen went to work for the Navy at the US Naval Depot in Mechanicsburg.  She also worked for a sewing factory and a waitressed at a diner. 

     Helen and her husband built and operated the Tuscarora Motor Inn in Mifflintown from 1963 until their retirement in1982.  Helen enjoyed volunteering at the Lewistown Hospital for many years, making quilts for Lutheran World Relief to donate and other volunteer activities to help those in need.

     Helen was a lifelong member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class, was a member of Mifflin Chapter #260 Order of the Eastern Star for over fifty years, and was a former secretary for Milford Grange #773.  Helen enjoyed traveling especially cruising and organizing bus trips, cooking and baking, caning chairs, playing cards, sewing, and spending time with friends.  Most of all, she enjoyed seeing her family, especially seeing her grandchildren and great grandchildren as they grew up.

     Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 22 at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Licking Creek Valley, with Rev. Jerri Carlin and Vicar Sam Leister, officiating.  Interment will be in St. Stephen’s Lutheran Cemetery.  There will be a viewing from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the services on Thursday. All services will be held at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church (www.ststephenslickingcreek.org), 8489 Licking Creek Road, Mifflintown, PA 17059, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Philadelphia (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren/philadelphia/ways-to-give), Attn: Development Office, 3551 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 or to Cure PSP (www.psp.org), 1216 Broadway, 2^nd floor, New York, NY 10001.

     Arrangements are in the care of Guss Funeral Home, Inc., 20 S. Third St., Mifflintown. Condolences may be left at www.gussfh.com.

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