Dorothy Bieber

Dorothy J. Bieber, Community Leader

Dorothy (Dottie) Woods Bieber, devoted mother and grandmother, community volunteer, and a life-long resident of Shenango Valley, died at her home on February 11, 2026. She was 96 years old.

Mrs. Bieber was born in Sharpsville on October 31, 1929, to Charles and Sara Stewart Woods. She graduated from Sharpsville High School, where she was voted Miss 1948 by her classmates. She attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Upon graduation from IUP in 1952, she was hired by the Farrell School District, where she taught 4th grade. During that time, she earned her Master’s in education from Westminster College.

On August 7, 1954, Dorothy married Henry S. Bieber. They lived in Sharon and together raised four children until Mr. Bieber died suddenly in March 1970.

Mrs. Bieber gave freely of her time to many organizations. Some of these included Girl Scouts, where she was a life-long member and received the Juliette Gordon Low Award, the highest award Girl Scouts of America bestows. She was a member of the Sharon Rotary Club, where she served as president, hosted eight Rotary Exchange students, and was a Paul Harris Fellow recipient. She and Mr. Bieber hold the distinction of being the only husband and wife to serve as president of the Sharon Rotary Club. She served on the board of directors of United Way for 42 years and was a member of Planned Parenthood, serving as president from 1970-72. Mrs. Bieber was also a member of Church Women United, Hermitage Women’s Club, College Club, and Shenango Valley Urban League. She was one of the founding members and later served as president of the Mercer County chapter of League of Women Voters. In her later years, Mrs. Bieber was a member of the Philanthropic Education Organization and a two-term president of her condo association at Thornton Woods. In 1991, she was a Buhl Day honoree and in 2007 received the Distinguished Citizen Award, given by the Boy Scouts of America to honor community leaders who serve as role models to live by principles beyond self-interest.

Mrs. Bieber was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, where she was a constant presence for nearly 70 years, which included serving as a trustee, elder, Sunday school teacher and superintendent. Mrs. Bieber loved calling Shenango Valley her home, where she had a wide circle of friends. She was especially proud of her Sharpsville roots.

Mrs. Bieber was an avid international traveler who visited all seven continents. One of those trips was when she took her children and a nephew to Europe during the summer of 1973, in which they camped in 13 countries. Her wide interests also included gardening and entertaining a wide variety of guests in her home.

Mrs. Bieber believed in life with purpose and felt a responsibility to give back to her community. She lived by her favorite motto: “Bloom where you are planted.” She established the Henry and Dorothy Bieber Trustee Scholarship to provide funds to students at Penn State Shenango, which to date has benefitted more than 78 students.

She is survived by her son, H. Lyle Bieber (Julie Riordan), Hermitage; daughters, Julia Schmucker (Arthur Greisiger), Bryn Athyn, PA, Marcia Moyer (Alec), Medina, Ohio; and son, Charles L. Bieber (Dr. Robert Klitzman), New York City; four grandchildren, Robert Schmucker, Kathyrn Schmucker, Emma Moyer and Stewart Moyer. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents; a sister, Patricia Thomson; and a cousin who was raised by her parents, Janet A. Woods.

The children of Dorothy Bieber would like to extend a heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the nurses from Helping Hands hospice care, Laura Mae Nelson, and life-long family friend Dr. David Wood for their kind support and professionalism to our mother in her final days.

Memorial donations in Dorothy’s memory may be made to the Bieber scholarship at Penn State Shenango(shenango.psu.edu/alumni-friends/give/bieberscholarship), First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, 600 East State St., Sharon, PA 16146, or Buhl Park, 715 Hazen Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.