Sheila Florence

Buhler

Sheila was born to William and Maureen Adam in Crowborough, Sussex, England, with an older sister, Mhairi, and a yet to be born sister, Patricia.  Sheila attended Lillesden School for Girls and then St Christopher's Training College studying to become a nanny.  She knew from a young age she wanted to work with children. After graduation, she held positions with families in England, France, and Canada. She loved people of all sorts, making friends so quickly wherever she went, and kept in touch with people all over the world for many decades.

In 1962, Sheila went on holiday to Willowbank, a Christian guest house in Bermuda, where she met Harland, her husband of 50 years.  The year after they married, they moved to Pennsylvania where their son, David, was born.  A short time later, they moved to Maryland, outside of Washington DC, where their daughter, Mary was born.  Sheila stayed at home to raise David and Mary until they were school age and then started back to work in the lunchroom of a local school.

Sheila went on to serve special needs children in the Montgomery County schools for most of her 17 years of service.  Sheila volunteered in the nursery at Fourth Presbyterian Church and became a fixture there for 30 years, knitting blankets for all of the babies who came through.  She also passed on her love of needle work to many girls throughout her lifetime.  She actively supported Harland in his ministry work through the years.

In 1996, Sheila and Harland moved to Falls Church, Virginia, and she continued to work with special needs children at a local elementary school.  Sheila also volunteered with Capernaum, the Young Life group for children with special needs.

In 2011, Sheila and Harland moved to Tel Hai in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, to be closer to their three grandchildren, Clayton, Quinn, and Peter.  Harland and Sheila quickly made friends in their new community and she became known for giving away delicate crochet crosses and colorful cotton dish cloths.  She was part of the Prayer Shawl ministry which made blanks for those in the nursing facility. She also enjoyed visiting residents in the rehabilitation wing and had recently attended a volunteer appreciation