Sarah (Sally) M. Jarvis

Sarah (Sally) M. Jarvis, 89, of Lancaster, PA, passed away on Friday afternoon, September 15, 2017 at Lancaster General Hospital, following a fall. Born in Flushing, NY, she was the daughter of the late William Cramp, Jr. and Clarissa Smythe Melcher and the wife of the late John Arthur Jarvis who died in 2008. Raised in Chestnut Hill, PA, she was a graduate of Springside School, 1945, BA Sweet Briar College, Virginia, 1949. She spent her junior year abroad from Sweet Briar to attend the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, where she met her husband, John Jarvis. Sally served as an Assistant Director of the North Museum from 1974-1992, where she initiated the “Rambles” travel program. She was a freelance writer for the Lancaster Newspapers and authored two children’s books “Little Plays for Little People” and “Fried Onions and Marshmallows.” She was a 50-year member of First Presbyterian where she most recently served as an Elder. Additionally, she was a chair of three murals: West End Mural and Grant Street Mural and the newly unveiled student-designed mural at the Lafayette School. She was awarded the “Shining Star of North Museum” in 2013 and the New Era Red Rose award in 1997. She was a volunteer mentor at Lafayette School, and organized residents of Willow Valley to tutor students at the nearby school. She was past board member of Demuth Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Lancaster Summer Arts Festival, Friends of Lancaster County Library, and Lancaster County Bicentennial Committee where she served as editor of “Voice of Liberty” newsletter. A member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, Art class, and Hierophants. She is survived by her son, Andrew Jarvis (Liz Farmer) of Philadelphia, PA, daughters: Anne Jarvis Gerbner (John) of Philadelphia, PA, Virginia Jarvis Whelan (Richard) of Merion Station, PA, Sarah Porter Jarvis of Bala Cynwyd, PA, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Richard Q. Whelan, Jr. and her sister, Deborah Melcher Stout. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to Sally Jarvis’s Celebration of Life Memorial on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. Family will receive visitors beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be private, in First Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden, that John Jarvis designed and Sally Jarvis brought to fruition. In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Sally’s name may be made to Lancaster Country Day School, John A. & Sally M. Jarvis Scholarship Fund or to First Presbyterian Church, 140 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA 17602.