Eleanor Louise Bankert Sheen, 85 of Gettysburg, PA died on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at her home.

Born in Littlestown, PA on June 28, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Wilbur A. and Mary E. (Crouse) Bankert. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. James D. Sheen, who died in 2013.

Ellie graduated from Littlestown High School in 1951 and from Ursinus College in 1955 where she met her husband. They married in 1956 and they and their two sons came to Gettysburg in 1959 to establish Jim’s dental practice. She has lived in Gettysburg since that time.

Ellie had many interests. She enjoyed her home, cooking, gardening, entertaining, her friends, her computer, aviation and volunteering in many community organizations and activities. Ellie participated in her husband Jim’s dental practice since 1959 as a bookkeeper, dental lab technician and dental assistant. She received her private pilot’s license in 1967 and had great pleasure sharing that activity with her husband and sons. The family had many wonderful flying trips throughout the United States and Canada. She and Jim traveled many times in their plane to Central America where she assisted him on dental mission trips.

Ellie was a member of the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church since 1959, where she served in many capacities. She was, or had been, an active member of the Gettysburg Garden Club, Over the Teacups, AAUW, Friends of the Adams County Library System, HGAC, Gettysburg Hospital Auxiliary, American Cancer Society, Experimental Aircraft Assn. (EAA), Gettysburg Barnstormers-EAA Chapter 1041, and most recently was co-coordinator of the Christmas Kettle Campaign for the Salvation Army for many years.

Ellie is survived by her two sons; Geoffrey W. Sheen and his wife Mary of Augusta, GA and James D. Sheen, Jr. and his wife Virginia of Owings Mills, MD, two grandchildren; Matthew W. Sheen and Elizabeth Tuohy-Sheen Stratton, two great granddaughters, Isabelle and Hillary Stratton, her brother, Dean W. Bankert and his wife Millie and nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Ellie’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, 208 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA with Rev. Dr. David Wright and Rev. Louis Nyiri, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Monahan Funeral Home on Saturday, December 8, 2018 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Ellie’s memory to the Sheen Fund, Adams County Community Foundation, P. O. Box 4565, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Online tributes and condolences can be made at monahanfuneralhome.com.

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