Silas Kendrick Eshleman, III

Silas Kendrick Eshleman III died peacefully at the age of 97 on December 21, 2025, at Landis Homes, Lititz PA. He was born in Gainesville, Florida, he the son of Silas Kendrick Eshleman, Jr. and Aileen Hope McClamrock Eshleman. Ken’s father was a professor at the University of Florida and the family resided in Florida during the school year, returning to Lancaster County for each summer. Ken’s lifelong interest in science was evident at an early age, when he was a student at the P.K. Yonge Lab School in Gainesville, where he was allowed to have a weather station on the roof, provided he gave a daily weather forecast. He graduated from the University of Florida, Gainesville, with a B.S. in Biology with high honors and Phi Beta Kappa. He did much field research on the flora and fauna of Florida during his undergraduate years, with an emphasis on freshwater sponges. After college, he attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, and graduated with his M.D. in 1953. In his third year of medical school, he met Judith Wills Cooper, R.N. and they married in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, with rank of Captain, and was in charge of the psychiatric wards at the U.S. Army Hospital in Ft. Knox, Kentucky. In 1959, he and Judy moved to Lancaster, PA, where he established his private psychiatric medical practice (until retiring in July 1997). He was a member of the medical staff at the former St. Joseph Hospital and Lancaster General Hospital. At the St. Joseph Hospital, he helped establish the psychiatric unit, which was one of the first in PA. He also was the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry for many years. Additionally, he served as consultant in psychiatry at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Lebanon, PA, and was a consultant at the Lancaster County Family and Children's Service. Ken was actively involved in numerous national and local organizations, professional and otherwise, and served on the Board of Directors of many. He was a sixth-generation member of St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster PA and a member of the Descendants of Marie Ferree Society. In addition to his scientific pursuits, he had many other varied interests, including American history, especially of Lancaster County, as well as genealogy. Many happy hours throughout his life were spent rock collecting, fossil hunting, hiking, fishing, and bird watching. He also was an avid reader, especially enjoyed poetry, and frequently recited meaningful verses. He enjoyed sharing his many interests and vast knowledge with others and often was asked to speak on a number of topics. He had a special knack with puns, which he very much enjoyed springing on family and friends. He is survived by a daughter, Diane Eshleman Djordjevic, her husband Milic, granddaughter Tatiana, and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years, Judith Wills Cooper Eshleman, and a brother, John Martin Slaymaker Eshleman. A Requiem Mass will take place at St. James Episcopal Church, 110 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA, on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Interment will be private in the All Saints Episcopal Cemetery, Paradise, PA. The family thanks the staff at Landis Homes and at Caring Hospice for their wonderful care. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to All Saints Episcopal Cemetery Association, c/o Cheryl Straut, Treasurer, 59 Walker Lane, Queensbury, N.Y. 12804.