Emma Jane Beach

Emma Jane Beach passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026. She was born on April 16, 1934, at home in Mount Joy on the site where the Milanof-Schock Library now stands. She was the eldest daughter of Cornelius and Emma Ruth Wisegarver. She was a graduate of Mount Joy High School in 1952, and a graduate of Millersville State College in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in library science. She was married to Richard Beach from 1952 to 1972. She is survived by three children, Kimberly Beach, Kathy (John) Morrison, and Keith (Debra) Beach; four grandchildren, Matthew (Christy) Obetz, Kelsey (Tyler) McCreight, Gregory (Caitlin) Obetz and Miranda (Christian Wolgemuth) Beach; four great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Connie (James) Paul and Sally (Craig) Byrd. Jane attained her bachelor’s degree while her children were in school. She began her library career as the Elizabethtown High School librarian. She then went to Huth Engineers to create their first corporate library. Her success there led to her being pursued by BMY (now BAE Systems), a defense contractor in York, to establish their first corporate library. She retired from there and retirement lasted just one year. She found herself once again creating another corporate library - this time at Phillips Office Products. She finally retired from there at age 82. While her children were young, before she started college, she volunteered at the Mount Joy Library on Main Street in Mount Joy. Once she attained her degree, she became the librarian at that library. This was a part-time position in addition to her work at Elizabethtown High School. She was then asked to serve on the library’s Board of Directors. She was instrumental in the design and building of the Milanof-Schock Library on the site where she had been born. Jane moved to an independent living apartment at Masonic Village in 2010 while still working. Another librarian on campus sought her out to ask if she’d volunteer to manage the Grand Hall Lodge Library. Once again, she took on the challenge and created a bright, vibrant library that residents found delightful and useful. The large, dynamic group of volunteer library aides that she developed continues even today, inspired by the vision Jane shared and made reality. Aside from her passion for libraries, Jane also served on the Mount Joy Borough Authority, as a Brownie Leader, and as the pianist at St Mark’s United Methodist Church. From the time she was young and attended church camp in Mount Gretna, she loved spending time there with family, and it became an annual week together that she cherished. She also loved taking walks and riding bike with her lifelong friend, Pat Brooks Eichler. A celebration of Jane’s life will take place on Wednesday, April 29, at the Masonic Village, Brossman Ballroom of the Freemasons Cultural Center, 71 Freemason Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Family members will greet guests from 1:00 – 1:30 pm. The Celebration program will begin at 1:30. The family requests casual attire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Milanof-Schock Library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552.

Tributes

Emma Jane Beach

April 16, 1934 - April 19, 2026