Bertha Louise Thrush, 95, of Chambersburg, passed away the morning of June 4, 2026 at Chambers Pointe Health Care Center.
She was born on August 24, 1930 in Chambersburg, a daughter of the late Alva and Mary Ott Wingert Hoover.
Bertha was a 1948 graduate of Chambersburg High School.
She is survived by four children, Wanda (Steve) Lehman of Annville, PA, Curtis (Donna) Thrush of Milan, PA, Clair (Patricia) of Ulster, PA, Lane (Tondra) Thrush of Chambersburg, PA; daughter-in-law Anne Thrush of Gaithersburg, MD; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Thrush, who passed away on September 25, 1997; her son Dean Thrush, who passed away in 2010; two sisters, Julia Hostetter and Ethel Myers; and one brother Nathan Wingert.
Bertha’s life was heavily invested in her personal faith in Jesus Christ, her church, and her family. She would often share with her family (especially grand and great-grandchildren) the absolute importance of giving their lives to Christ and living for Him. Bertha attended four churches throughout her life: The Air Hill and Mt. Rock Brethren in Christ churches, the Evangelical Free Church in Shippensburg, and later in life The Open Door Church in Chambersburg.
Bertha and Donald traveled to several countries to serve as short term missionaries. These trips led them to the Soviet Union, Ukraine, and Nicaragua. They also served the Brethren in Christ mission in the Bronx, NY for a short time.
In 1980, Donald and Bertha traveled to Israel to visit the Holy Land sites and then extended the trip on to Germany to experience The Passion Play in Oberammergau.
Bertha was a steady support for Donald as he served as Deacon at the Mt. Rock Brethren in Christ church for many years. She also taught Sunday School for many years. Bertha and Donald served as Bible Quiz team coaches for the Mt. Rock youth team for several years. In 1970, the team traveled to Upland, California to participate in the International Quiz competition of the Brethren in Christ denomination. They went back home as Champions.
Donald and Bertha often invited church visitors into their home for a meal after Sunday morning services. This included families or occasionally students who were attending Shippensburg University. Out of this Sunday hospitality, a long-term friendship developed with a university professor from Taiwan.
Bertha served the CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) organization as a volunteer for several years. She worked with the Mail Box Club program both at headquarters in Warrenton, MO and locally with the Franklin/Fulton Co. chapter.
A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 12 noon at The Open Door Church, 600 Miller St., Chambersburg, Pa 17201. Rev. Robert Gray will officiate. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Bertha will be privately laid to rest alongside her husband at Air Hill Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., Shippensburg.
Memorial Contributions in Bertha’s honor may be made to CEF of Franklin/Fulton Counties, 45 South Second St., Waynesboro, PA 17268.
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