Donna L. Messer, 79, of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2016, at the Chambersburg Hospital.

Born July 8, 1937, in Davenport, Iowa, she was the daughter of the late Herbert S. and Irene E. Clifford Peterson.

Donna was a 1955 graduate of Davenport High School in Iowa. She and her husband, Terrill J. “Terry” Messer, were high school sweethearts before they were married on September 1, 1956. They just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. She was the principal’s secretary at the North Shore Middle School, Long Island, New York, from 1977 til retiring in 1995. She was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church. She loved music—played piano, trumpet, euphonium, sang in the church choirs and recently the Penn National Chorus. An avid reader, Donna belonged to several book clubs.

In addition to her husband Terry, Donna is survived by her son, Paul Messer and wife Carrie of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, and her brother, Ronald Peterson of Des Moines, Iowa. Aside from her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Mark Messer in 2008, and John Messer in 2015.

A memorial service to celebrate Donna’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2016, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17202. The Rev. Christopher Frye will officiate. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to John J. Messer Scholarship Fund at Penn College of Technology, 1 College Avenue, Williamsport, Pennsylvania 17701.

Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg. Condolences and memories may be shared on her Book of Memories page at www.geiselfuneralhome.com.