On a beautiful spring day and surrounded by loving family, Elizabeth Lynne (Betty Lynne) Bernhardt (Harris) passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025, at the age of 83.

Betty Lynne was born on July 18, 1941, at Somerset Hospital in Somerville, New Jersey. She was a 1959 graduate of Dunellen High School and a 1963 graduate of Glassboro State College (Rowan), where she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education. While at Glassboro, she was a 4-year varsity member of the cheerleading squad and met and fell in love with Bill Bernhardt. Bill and Betty Lynne married shortly after their graduation in 1963 and enjoyed over 61 years of marriage. Following graduation, they lived for eight more years in New Jersey before moving their family of four to State College so that Bill could pursue his D.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State University.

After those wonderful years in State College, Betty Lynne, and her now family of five, moved to Greenville, PA where she enjoyed raising her young family, engaging in the community and church, and teaching elementary school in neighboring Jamestown, PA. The family moved to Muncy, PA in 1983 where Betty Lynne continued to invest in her family, community and church, as well as teaching elementary school in Montgomery, PA. While in Muncy, Betty Lynne earned her master's degree in reading education from Bloomsburg University. Bill, Betty Lynne and Emmalyn moved to Barbourville, KY in 1988, where she completed her professional career as Registrar of Union College. She took great joy in helping guide young adults in their college careers.

After Bill and Betty Lynne retired from Union College in 2004, they moved to York, PA to be closer to family. They loved attending their grandchildrens' soccer games, dance recitals, track meets, hockey games, piano recitals, swim meets, marching band events, band and orchestra concerts, cheer events, musical theater performances, and regular Saturday morning breakfasts. Over the years, Betty Lynne has been involved with Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, taught Sunday School, cared for her family, raised her three children and unleashed unrelenting affection on her grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling and had many memorable trips to Ocean City, NJ; Pigeon Forge, TN; Williamsburg, VA; the Outer Banks, and traveling with Bill in their motor home to Assateague and Disney World. The family remembers fondly a multi-week camping trip out west in 1981.

A firm and unwavering believer in the promises of Jesus Christ, Betty Lynne was an active member of a church congregation in every community in which she lived, most recently, York First Church of the Brethren.

She is survived by her loving husband, William Edward (Bill) Bernhardt, their three children and their spouses, William (Bill) Bernhardt and Kathy Delaney, David and Tina Bernhardt, and Emmalyn and Ron Loeffler, and seven wonderful grandchildren, Sarah Hoffman and her husband Joe, Jason Bernhardt, Adam Bernhardt, William (Alex) Bernhardt, Peter James Loeffler, Caroline Bernhardt, and Casey Loeffler. She was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Florence Harris (Cathcart), a sister, Linda Ruth Harris, and a grandson, Benjamin Loeffler.

There will be a memorial event on April 5, 2025, in the community room of the Manchester Apartment Complex of the Normandie Ridge Retirement Community, 1700 Normandie Drive, York, PA 17408. The family welcomes visitors at 10:00 am with a celebration of life starting at 11:00 am. A light lunch will be served following the service. Wagner-Elfner and Burg Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 134 W. Broadway, Red Lion, is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Special Olympics of York County (https://specialolympicspa.org/region-7-home) or the Asbury Foundation of Asbury Homes (https://www.asbury.org/foundation/).

Betty Lynne hopes that this obituary is helpful to future family genealogists.