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Rachel "Rae" K. (Smith) Sponseller, 88, of Hanover, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 21, 2022 at Homewood at Plum Creek. She was the loving wife of the late John H. Sponseller, Jr.; together they shared over 54 years of marriage before his passing on October 11, 2022.  Johnny and Rae lived a rich life filled with love, joy, adventure, hard work, family and friends. As our hearts break at her passing, we are comforted by the knowledge that this loving, vibrant couple is together again.

Born April 8, 1934 in Joppa, MD, Rae was the daughter of the late Sidney H. and Eva M. (Cottrell) (Smith) Baugus. In addition to her parents and husband, Rae was preceded in death by two brothers, Sidney H. Smith, Jr. and Joseph Smith, and two sisters, Florance Payne and Eva V. Shearer.

Rae graduated from New Oxford High School in 1952, where she was a majorette in the high school marching band.  Her love of twirling and sense of business motivated her to open her first studio in 1956.  The next year, she formed one of the first twirling and drill teams on the Eastern seaboard - the Hanover Cadet Majorette Corp. Rae became a member of the Drum Majorettes of America (DMA) and began competition.  Her studio teams won over 40 State Championships for DMA and placed in the top three Nationally 11 times.

As if running a successful baton twirling & dance studio and being a wonderful wife, mother and daughter wasn't enough, Rae worked as a receptionist at Hanover Brands for 17 years.

"Miss Rae" (as she was called by her students) and Johnny owned and operated Sponseller's Performing Arts Studio for ten years, offering training in a wide variety of artistic disciplines.  She sponsored and gave wings to the School of Music & Dance and the Hanover School of Ballet. She started one of the first competitive gymnastic programs, which she donated to the Hanover Y.M.C.A.

After 33 years in the business, Miss Rae's studio was taken over by her daughter, Lori, and husband, Kevin.  For the next 25 years, Rae was Managing Director of The Dance Works.  Her life was devoted to her kids (as she affectionately called her students), and it was so much more than dance.  She built a community, a family to which all were welcomed.  She orchestrated Halloween parties, the Jingle Bell Bash Christmas Dinner Show, and Easter egg hunts in Codorus Park, smiling ear-to-ear at the fun breaking out all around her. She produced & directed The Dance Works Review. She worked diligently to raise funds so her kids could dance, be beautifully costumed, march in parades, and enjoy Walt Disney World & Royal Caribbean Cruises, where they performed for guests. This cherished, unique family spanned generations and brought endless joy to Miss Rae and Johnny.

Rae is survived by many people who loved her dearly.  An ever-present, loving force in her life is her daughter Lori M. (Zartman) Berkheimer and her husband Kevin J. of Hanover.  Daughter Kimberly (Sponseller) Keough and her husband Matthew, live in Alexandria, VA, and their children, twins Savannah and Nathan and twins Natalie and William, all attend college. Fresh Air daughter, Francise DeJesus of Taneytown, MD, and her children, Anthony, Antoine, Tianna Rae, and several grandchildren are all important members of Rae's extended family. She is also survived by two loving nieces, Judy Ann (Shearer) Lawrence of Hanover, Barbara Ann (Smith) Fuhrman of Pasadena, MD and a foster brother, Paul Reinke, Jr. of Pasadena, MD.  Sue and Dick Trimmer of Hanover, complete the circle of cherished family, including their daughters and families; Kris (Trimmer) and Andy Peterman and children Ansley and Connor, of Gettysburg, and Tracey (Trimmer) and Tim Coppersmith and children Grace and Lily, of Hanover.

A service to celebrate the life of our fabulous Miss Rae will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Hanover First Church of God, 600 Fairview Dr., Hanover, PA with Pastor Dan Thomas officiating. Two opportunities to share memories with family and for open viewing are Friday, December 2, from 6-8 p.m. at the Wetzel Funeral Home & Crematory, 549 Carlisle St., Hanover, and then again on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in St. Paul (Dubs) Union Church Cemetery, 1958 Dubs Church Rd, Hanover. Pallbearers will be Nathan Keough, Will Keough, Connor Peterman, Andy Peterman, Tim Coppersmith, and Tony Mercado.  Immediately following burial, everyone is invited back to the Hanover First Church of God's Fellowship Hall for lunch and continued celebration of Rae's life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association (https:heart.org).

To share memories of Rae Sponseller and view a video tribute, please visit www.wetzelfuneralhome.com .