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Barbara Whitsel of Washington Boro's car was found in the local park along the 2000 block of River Road on Tuesday around 2:30 p.m., according to Manor Township police.
Around 4 p.m., a Lancaster County Coroner was sent a coroner to the scene, according to emergency dispatch.
The Blue Rock fire commissioner, who led the search for Whitsel, said she was found dead in the Susquehanna River in the area of River Road and Penn Street, according to WGAL.
She was found with her puppy Buford, according to her son.
The identity of the body as Whistel was confirmed by the coroner's office on Wednesday. Her cause of death was revealed to be drowning and the manner was suicide.
The police are continuing to investigate her disappearance and anyone with information is asked to contact the police.
Barbara was an Elizabethtown Area High School graduate who went on to attend Harrisburg Area Community College. She is survived by her children Tammy Smith and Eric Oberdorff; grandchildren, extended family, and friends, according to social media.
Her family has been sharing about her life and the joy she brought others.
Tammy has organized an estate sale to help cover the expenses.
A GoFundMe Campaign has also been launched by a family friend, Kileen Sweitzer of Wrightsville. In the first 24 hours, the campaign raised $275 of a $5,000 goal from 6 donations, with the top donation of $100 coming from Sandra Trexler.
Click here if you would like to donate to the GoFundMe.
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