Dorothy Harsher

Our hearts are broken and our tears have yet to dry. How does an obituary begin to describe a life that was full and loved.

Dorothy Lee (Joh) Harsher passed away surrounded by her family at Fair Oaks Hospital on July 19, 2024.

She was born to Raymond and Dorothy Joh on Halloween 1928. She and her younger brother Ray grew up on the family farm in Violetville, MD. She met her husband Clarence Leroy (Roy) Harsher at University of Maryland summer school when he persuaded the girl next to him to change seats. She attended Wesley College, transferred to Lycoming College graduating with a degree in Social Work. Her parents said she had to work for two years before she could get married. Roy and Dorothy married on August 31, 1952.

When Roy transferred with Eastern Airlines to fly out of National Airport, Dorothy told him to find a small town with a big Methodist Church. He told her he had found the perfect town between National and the brand new Dulles Airport. This is how the Harshers moved to Great Falls, Virginia in August 1963. They moved four times in Great Falls – Dorothy joked that Roy wanted to move every time the house needed to be painted when in reality Roy just liked to move.

Dorothy was the quintessential church lady - an active member of Great Falls United Methodist Church for over 61 years. Cooking and running the kitchen for many church bazaars, Lions Clubs meetings and Senior Citizens luncheons, active in the Betty Clarke Circle and the Faith and Fellowship group. She enjoyed doing children’s church, helped to put on a couple of plays including The Minister’s New Car where a family favorite phrase “Now that I am here, who shall we talk about” came from. 

She joined Marji’s TOPS group (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) in 2009 to show how losing weight was done (and she did) and was an inspiration to all. She enjoyed the friendships she made, the meetings, doing programs and traveling. She was always trying to find programs to do to inspire her TOPS group.

She was very crafty, knitting, quilting and cross-stitch. She loved baking – famous for making Benji’s rolls, Angel biscuits (guess she is the Angel now) and cakes – including her funeral cake (renamed the Celebration of Life cake). She was a fixer – if you had a problem she wanted to find a way to fix it. She was very determined – one of her favorite phrases was “I can do it myself.”

You always knew when she was mad, because she bit her bottom lip. When you were asked to do something you learned to never say “Who me” because the answer was going to be “Yes, you Helen” – growing up they had a helper on the farm who when asked to do something always said “Who me?” when no one else was around. You guessed it - the helper’s name was Helen.

Dorothy is survived by her loving family, daughters Marji (Bob) Clark, Dottie (Scott) Rosenke, and son Rob Harsher. Son Ray (Kim) Harsher died in 2009. She is also survived by grandchildren Seth (Amanda) Rosenke, Virginia (Juan) Rivas, Sara Harsher (Pari Kooshesh), Roy (Courtney) Harsher, Howard Harsher and Jackson Clark and great grandchildren Valeria and Xiomara Rivas and Kaveh Kooshesh. Bonus grandchildren Ricky (Genel) Clark, Kyle (Becca) Rosenke and Kara (Steve) Olson. Bonus great-grandchildren Damien, Ryland, Savannah and Lexi Clark, Alexander and Lulu Olson, Darius and Arman Farshchian.

She dearly loved her grandkids and was so proud of the people they became. She adored becoming a great-grandmom.

She leaves a big hole in the hearts of her loved ones – a void that can’t be filled.

The Memorial Service is being held in that big Methodist church in the “no longer small” town.

Great Falls United Methodist Church

10100 Old Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066

Saturday 8/31/24 (her and Roy’s 72nd wedding anniversary)

11 AM

Lunch reception to follow

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Great Falls United Methodist Church or the church or charity of your choice.