Donna Gathright, 61, passed away peacefully in her home on August 1st, 2025 after a 3-year battle of many mental and physical health complications. She was a loving wife and mother, cared deeply for her community, and was a free spirit in every sense of the word.

Born on November 16, 1963 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Leroy Strauss and Ruth (Kreiser) Plueger, Donna loved to draw from an early age. She went to Northern Lebanon and went on to get her Associates Degree in Social Work at Harrisburg Area Community College. On May 27, 1995 she was married to Howard P. Gathright, Jr and they shared many great years together.

Donna loved to learn and used that drive to change her community for the better. She not only helped to found and run the Female Offender Re-Entry Program (F.O.R.E.) in Lebanon County, but also helped hundreds of people through her years as a social worker for the Lebanon County Community Action Partnership. She was always happy to help others using what she learned, spending hours writing grants, researching by-laws, and connecting people to any cause she believed in.

Donna also loved the arts - she spent the later years of her life painting anything from gnomes to landscapes on as many canvases as she could find. She was an accomplished artist in her own right and     filled her days creating painting after painting after painting. She always encouraged her kids and grandchildren to pursue any art or hobby that made them happy and would allow them to express themselves as she knew first-hand how important it was to create things that brought people joy.

Those that knew her well knew that she loved to go shopping and especially, antiquing. She and Howard would often go to numerous yard sales on Saturday mornings or spent time antiquing and filling their house, making it feel like a home that truly reflected the family that lived there.

In addition to her husband and parents, Donna is survived by her five children: Howard P. Gathright III, Shane R. Boltz, Christopher J. Gathright, Brittany A. Sechrist, wife of Logan. R., Justin L. Gathright, husband of Anna M.; and     five grandchildren: Gabriel, Paige, Hunter, Caiden, and Emily. She was preceded in death by her brother, Brian Strauss.

Donna will be remembered for the love of her family, her creative spirit, and how she always made a difference in her community. A viewing celebrating Donna's life and legacy will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025 from 10:30-11:30 AM at Thompson Funeral Home, Inc., 126 S 9th St, Lebanon, PA 17042. Interment will be held privately. We invite all who knew and loved Donna to join us in honoring her memory. Please share your memories with the family at our online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com