Sharon Waltz Garvey from Scranton PA and previously from Camillus NY died Thursday, May 12th at Regional Hospital in Scranton after complications from type 1 diabetes and a deteriorating heart condition.
She was born on July 3rd, 1943 in Scranton, PA. She was proceeded in death by her parents Edwin Otto Waltz and Audrey Waltz Schuster, her brother Edwin Robert Waltz, and nephew Stephen Robert Yeager. She is survived by a son David Garvey Jr. Mechanicsburg, PA; former husband David Garvey Sr. Camillus, NY; brother David Waltz and wife Margrit Moscow, PA; sister Debra Yeager and husband Robert Greentown, PA; sister in law Luree Waltz Scranton, PA and step children Dana Garvey Salem, Mass. Mary Fontaine Manlius, NY and Karen Daisa and husband George Thousand Oaks, California. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and a great grandniece.
Sharon graduated from Scranton Central High School in 1961 and Marywood College in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Math Education. She attended Boston University Divinity School and received a Master’s degree in Math Education from Ohio University.
She taught math in New Jersey, Scranton Central High School, Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, PA, and 30 years at Onondaga High School in Onondaga, NY until her retirement in 2001. She also taught night classes at Onondaga Community College for several years
She moved back to Scranton in 2001 and worked at Boscov’s Department store in the candy department until 2018. She really enjoyed working with her fellow employees and interacting with her many loyal customers. She especially loved teaching Mathematics and was nominated to Who’s Who in American Teachers by former students. She tutored students for several years after retirement and volunteered for Hospice in Luzerne County.
She was a former member of the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church where she sang in the choir, taught bible study classes, and served on many committees.
She enjoyed baking from scratch and excelled in cake decoration. She always looked forward to summers when she could relax and spend time at Lake Ariel.
She was a devoted and loving mother, wife, aunt, sister and friend. She loved animals so her pets were an important part of her life.
She has touched many lives and will be missed by all who knew her.
The family would like to thank the conscientious doctors and nurses in the ICU at Regional Hospital for their kindness, support, and excellent care. We would also like to thank her many doctors through the years for their diligent care. We would especially like to thank friends for their continuous prayers, and Cindy, a very special neighbor who took extraordinary care of her throughout her battle with diabetes.
A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton July 9 at 11 AM. The family will receive friends at 10 AM.
Memorial donations can be sent to American Diabetes Association, Griffin Animal Shelter, or American Heart Association.
I’m SO sorry to hear of Sharon’s passing. My favorite memory of her is sitting in her lounge chair on her dock at Lake Ariel. She was always so happy there. She was such an accomplished woman, despite her health issues. She was a true inspiration to us all, and we will miss her. RIP, Sharon, no more pain or suffering. My condolences to her wonderful son, Dave, her sister Debbie, they were inseparable and to all the rest of her family and friends.
I worked with Sharon at Boscov’s for years. She was always smiling and so kind. My condolences to her family.
Mrs Garvey was an amazing math teacher who I had the fortune to have at Onondaga Central for my sophomore, junior and senior years … she made math come alive and her love for the content helped me greatly in my 30 years of teaching!