La Berta E. Laird, age 82, of Harleysville, passed away on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. She was the beloved wife of David E. Laird, with whom she shared over 59 years of marriage. Born March 14, 1941, in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Frederick H. and Emma A. (Ashton) Ehmann.

La Berta had a life-long love of learning and the arts. As a young girl, she learned ballet, and in high school, she studied Latin in the Latin club before graduating as the valedictorian of her class. At the University of Pennsylvania, she graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in the history and practice of art. She also performed on a synchronized-swimming team and studied piano and organ. As an artist in the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, she drew reference sketches of the archeological work of expeditions to Tikal and
Caracol. In the 1960s, when David was serving in the Air Force, La Berta followed his love of flying by earning her private pilot license. Later, she studied organ with Keith Chapman and Peter Richard Conte, both Grand Court organists of the famous Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia.
She expressed her love of art and music in a variety of ways, teaching art at Calvary Baptist School in Lansdale and organ and piano to students both young and old, including one gentleman who began organ lessons at 83. For many years, La Berta also played the organ for congregational singing and special music with her church family at Calvary Baptist Church in Lansdale, where she also accompanied many performances of Handel's Messiah with the church choir and orchestra.

In addition to her husband, David, she is survived by her children, Michael D. Laird (and his wife, Susan), Janine L. Laird, Heidi L. Clinton (and her husband, Bob), and Jonathan H. Laird (and his wife, Melanie); grandchildren, Stephen, Matthew, Christina, Timothy, Lionel, and Renée; great-grandchildren, Isabella and Emilia; and brothers, Frederick H. Ehmann, Jr. (and his wife, Ilse) and Bartley Ehmann.

Services for La Berta will take place at 10:30 AM on September 9, 2023, at Calvary Baptist Church, 1380 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale, PA 19446, where the family will greet guests from 9:30–10:15 AM. Interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Roslyn.

Memorial contributions in La Berta's name may be made to Camp Calvary in Bernville, PA, or the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.williamsbergeykoffel.com.