Debbie graduated from Gettysburg Area High School with the class of 1959. She attended Hagerstown Community College and graduated from Shippensburg State Teachers College, now Shippensburg University, in 1963 with a degree in elementary education. Debbie taught briefly at Eisenhower Elementary school before marrying her husband, Joel, and moving to Rockville, MD where she taught at various schools in the Montgomery County School District. Debbie and Joel moved to Biloxi, MS where they lived for over a year before returning to the area and settling in McKnightstown in 1971. Upon returning to the area, she was one of the first teachers to teach at Mother Goose Nursery School in Gettysburg. Debbie left her teaching career to raise her three children. In 1988, she returned to teaching as a substitute teacher for all the elementary schools in the Gettysburg Area School District, working virtually every day and teaching numerous long-term assignments as well. It was during these years that she was known as the âgo to substituteâ and the beloved teacher of thousands of students, known for her Jolly Ranchers and Molly the Mouse. In 2006, Debbie retired from substituting, to focus on being a grandmother to the grandchildren she adored more than life itself.
Throughout the years, Debbie was actively involved in PTO, was a Brownie Troop leader, served on the steering committee for the renovations at Franklin Township Elementary School, volunteered her time and talent, leading, decorating, and planning for the original GASD Pops Concert, a role which she kept for many years. She served as a judge of elections in Franklin Township for over 20 years and was secretary of the Gettysburg High School Alumni Association for many years. Her outgoing, charismatic personality attracted a wide variety of friends from all walks of life, something that was evident up until her passing.
Debbie is survived by her husband of 59 years, Joel B. Riddlemoser of McKnightstown; daughter Kathleen S. Sease (Sean) of Gettysburg; daughter Amy K. Masenheimer (Dave) of McKnightstown; and son John D. Riddlemoser (Jen) of McKnightstown; grandchildren: Kendal Sease, Rachel and Brooke Masenheimer, and Brynn and Jace Riddlemoser; sisters Sarah Mopsick of Howell, NJ and Kathleen Cook of Gettysburg; dear friends Jackie Manely of Bradenton, FL and Pam Moritz of Orrtanna as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Pamela McCullough.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Paramount Senior Living Center, especially Raina and Neali, for caring for and supporting Debbie over the last year and a half as she battled dementia. Thank you to the many doctors and nurses at the Gettysburg Hospital Emergency Room and York Hospital who treated and cared for Mom with the utmost dignity and professionalism.
Professional services have been entrusted to Monahan Funeral Home, Carlisle Street, Gettysburg. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 25th with family receiving friends from 6-8pm. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, October 26th at 11:00am, at the historic St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on High St. in Gettysburg with a mass of Christian burial. Interment will follow at the McKnightstown Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at monahanfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gettysburg Area Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 4339, Gettysbu
This obituary was originally published here.