Loretta M. (Ryer) Raffensberger, 98, formerly of Dallastown passed away peacefully on March 18, 2022 at Seaton Springwood in York Township. Born March 26, 1923 in Dallastown, Loretta was a daughter of the late Jacob and Barbara (Steinfelt) Ryer. She was married for 74 years to the late James D. Raffensberger before his death in 2020.

Loretta was a life-long member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Dallastown and graduated from York Catholic High School in 1941. She proudly supported the war effort during WWII by working as an assembler at the Blaw-Knox naval ordnance plant in York. Loretta and James were married shortly after the war and settled on Maple Street in Dallastown where they lived for over 70 years. James and Loretta were such a fixture that Dallastown honored them as the borough's longest-married couple at Dallastown's 150th anniversary in 2016.

While primarily a wonderful mother, grandmother and homemaker, Loretta kept very busy by providing childcare, cleaning houses, and helping manage the family upholstery business. She loved to grow flowers and houseplants and could tell you a story about each of her plants – because each was given to her by a friend or relative. Loretta also loved to work on the many handicrafts that she learned through classes taken with her daughter, Barb, through the Dallastown Recreation Board.

Loretta is survived by three sons: Stephen D. Raffensberger and wife Adah of Reading, PA, Michael R. Raffensberger and wife Carol of York, and Mark E. Raffensberger and wife Donelle of Dallastown. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Walter Williams; 9 grandchildren: Lance Williams, Vincent Williams, Wendi Rathman, Kristy Raffensberger, Matthew Kerchner, Brian Raffensberger, Emily Raffensberger, Gretchen Pham, and Ellen Raffensberger; two sisters: Helen Pigg and Rosella Kreidler; one brother: Robert Ryer; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter Barbara L. Williams, a sister: A. Mary O'Keefe, and 3 brothers: John Ryer, Albert Ryer, and Paul Ryer.

A time to share memories and an opportunity to view will be held on March 29, 2022 from 10 to 11 AM at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 251 E. Main St., Dallastown, with A Mass of Christian Burial will beginning at 11 AM with Fr. Mark Weiss officiating. Interment will follow in Dallastown Union Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 251 E. Main St., Dallastown, PA 17313.
To share condolences, please visit www.eberlyfuneralhome.com