Back to MennObits Index Page
Lazarus Project

An expanded obituary project of MennObits.  Includes additional information of obituaries appearing in
The Mennonite and other newspapers.  
Source of individual obituaries given with each record.  Project managed by Thelma Martin.

 2005 - A to B


Abrahams, Bill;   Ahijevych, Maria Marunchenko;   Alderfer, Dorothy Mae; . . Barnhart, Frances May Good Whetzel ; . . Beard, Walter H. "Duffy" ; . .   Beiler, John S.;   Bender, Jean Witmer;   Bixler, Glen G.;   Bontrager, Fannie L.;   Bontrager, Roman M.;   Bowman, Ralph;   Boyer, Melody Ann;   Brubacher, Maria Willer;   Brubaker , Marvin L. II;   Bucher, Mildred L. Alderfer;    Burkhart, Gladys M. Burkholder, Bessie Mae Gehr;  Burkholder, Paul Leonard;  


Abrahams, Bill
, 84, of Newton, KS died October 30, 2005 at Wichita, KS of a heart attack.  He was born February 11, 1921 at Goessel, KS  to George & Helen (Richert) Abrahams.  On December 14, 1941 he was married to Marna Voth, who survives.

Surviving are children, Marnette Hatchett, Carol Abrahams, Russ Abrahams, Rod Abrahams, Ryan Abrahams, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held November 3, 2005 at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton, KS with burial in the adjoining cemetery.

He was a member of Mennonite Church USA.

Submitted by: Kim Funk
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin




Ahijevych, Maria Marunchenko
, 92,  of Sugarcree, OH died August 28, 2005.  She was born June 4, 1913 to Stephan  & Anna (Dumbe) Marunchenko. 

On January 21, 1834 she was married to Mykola Ahijevych, Sr. who survives.

Surviving are children, Mykola Ahijevych, Jr., Anatole Ahijevych, Svetlana Miller, five grandchildren and three great-children.
 
The funeral was held September 1, 2005 at First Mennonite Church, Sugarcreek, OH.
She was a member of Mennonite Church USA.

Submitted by: Unknown
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin




Alderfer, Dorothy Mae
, 94, of Souderton, PA died September 9, 2005.  She was born to Herbert & Alice (Haberle) Crouthamel. 

She was married to Titus F. Alderfer, who is deceased.

Surviving are two sons, Allen and Harold and five grandchildren.

The funeral was held September 14, 2005 at Souderton Mennonite Church, Souderton, PA with burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Submitted by: Unknown
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin




Barnhart, Frances May Good Whetzel
, 92, of Hephzibah, Ga died October, 1, 2005. She was born December 27, 1912, to John E. Good and Nora Wisman Good Cox. On Aug. 23, 1944, she married John W. Whetzel of Mathias, W.Va., who preceded her in death. On Oct. 2, 1988, she married John A. Barnhart, who survives. She was a member of Hephzibah Mennonite Church.

Also surviving are a son, Garnett W. Whetzel of Mathias, W.Va.; five stepsons, Jerry Barnhart of Grovetown, Ga., Earl and Glen Barnhart of Waynesboro, Ga., and Mark and Philip Barnhart of Hephzibah, Ga.; two sisters, Edith Shank of Hinton and Velma Shank of Stanardsville; two brothers, Aubrey Good of New Raymer, Colo., and Austin Good of Owings, Md.; five grandchildren; 35 step-grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services was October 4, 2005 at the Hephzibah Mennonite Church, Hephzibah, GA, with Gerald Eshleman officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Source: The Augusta Chronicle Augusta, GA, October 2, 2005
and Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, VA, October 4, 2005
Submitted and Edited by Leon Hertzler


 

Beard, Walter H. "Duffy", 71, of 6876 White Rock Road, Chambersburg, PA, died at 2:05 P.M. Wednesday, January 5, 2005 in his home. He had been in failing health for a number of years, but death was unexpected and attributed to heart failure.

Born July 23, 1933 in Pond Bank, PA, he was the son of the late Harry A. and Kathleen I. (Hess) Beard. He was a life long resident of Pond Bank.

Mr. Beard graduated from Chambersburg High School with the class of 1952, where he was a member of the high school Glee Club.

Mr. Beard was a machinist at Fairchild Aircraft Manufacturing, Hagerstown, MD, Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, Mack Truck, Hagerstown and Frick Company, Waynesboro. Prior to retiring in 1996, he owned and operated Duffy's Mart in Pond Bank from 1985 until its closing in 1996.

He enjoyed singing, and sang with the White Rock Gospel Quartet for a number of years.

Mr. Beard is survived by a long time friend of over 30 years, Deloris L. Rhone of Pond Bank; three sisters, Helen R. Beard with whom he lived, Chambersburg, Betty J. Beaver, Greencastle, PA, and Dorothy M. Lehman, Chambersburg; one brother, George W. Beard, Chambersburg; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, four brothers, John Beard, Joe Beard, Richard Beard and Harry Beard, Jr. preceded him in death.

Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January 9, 2005 in Pond Bank Mennonite Church, 6555 Duffield Road, Chambersburg with Rev. Marlin E. Ebersole and Rev. George S. Mouer, Sr. officiating. Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery near Mont Alto.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. Saturday in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad Street, Waynesboro and one hour prior to services in the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pond Bank Mennonite Church, 6555 Duffield Road, Chambersburg, PA 17201.

Source: Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad Street, Waynesboro
Submitted by: Leon Hertzler, Newport, NH



Beiler, John S.


Born: 5-5-1917, Belleville, Pa.  Died: 2-3-2005, Bird-in-Hand, Pa.
Husband of: Mary Riehl Beiler, who survives  Son of: Late Abram and Katie D. Smoker Beiler.

Other survivors: one son, Jesse (Betty) Beiler of Lebanon, Pa. and three daughters, Katie (David) Glick, Emma (Jonas) Riehl, both of Bird-In-Hand, and Mary (Joseph) Stoltzfus of Kirkwood, Pa.
Grandchildren: 24  Great-grandchildren: 23  A Brother, Abram (Salome) Beiler of Gordonville, Pa.  Three sisters, Rachel King of Honey Brook, Pa., Arie Miller of Bird-In-Hand and Katie Stoltzfus of Kirkwood

Preceded in death by one son, Abram Beiler, and 4 sisters, Sadie, Mary, Emma & Susie.

John was a member of Old Order Amish Church Services: At the Henry P. Esh Residence, 2874 Stumptown Road, Ronks, Pa. on Saturday at 11:00 am. Interment in Myers Amish Cem., Leola, Pa.

Original obituary may be obtained from
Intelligencer Journal, published
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, Lancaster, Pa.
Submitted by Peggy Reichard




Bender, Jean
, 66, of Ephrata, PA died April 18, 2005 at Harrisburg, PA. She was born 1939 in Brownstown PA to Elam and Katie Wenger Witmer. She was married to John A. Bender who surives.

She was a  member of the Millport Mennonite Church, Rothville, PA

Surviving are daughters, Jeannette & Jay Martin, Denver, PA, Joy & Andrew Steckbeck, Lancaster, PA,  Janelle & D. Brian Nolt, Stevens, PA; 6 Grandchildren, Joshua and Julianna Martin, Rachel, Hannah, and Sarah Steckbeck, and Megan Nolt. And sisters, Dorothy & the late Charles Miller, New Mexico, Arlene & Lester Hertzler, Sligo, PA, Lois & Clarence Good, Crogan, NY, and Grace & David Shenk of Mountville, PA ; and brothers, Paul & Mary Witmer, East Petersburg, PA, Luke & Dorothy Witmer Mt. Joy, PA and John & Evelyn Witmer of Manor, PA. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Roy Witmer and a sister Anna Eshbach.

Funeral Services were held April 23, 2005 at Millport Mennonite Church, Rothville, Pa. with Bishop Nelson Martin and Rev. Eugene Beyer officiating.  Interment was in the adjoining cemetery.
 
She was a member of Mennonite Church USA
Submitted & Edited by Leon Hertzler, Newport, NH
 


Bixler, Glen G
., 90, of Goshen, IN died October 5, 2005 at Goshen, Elkhart County, IN.  He was born October 16, 1914 at Goshen, Elkhart County, IN to Samuel & Martha (Wenger) Bixler. 

On September 4, 1937 he was married to Wilma Shaum, who died August 9, 2002.

Surviving are children, Mary Jane Roth, Glen S. Bixler, five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
 
The funeral was held October 8, 2005 at Rieth-Rohrer-Ehret Funeral Home, Goshen, IN with burial in Violett Cemetery, Goshen, IN.

He was a member of Mennonite Church USA.

Submitted by: Ethel Hoffman, College Mennonite Church
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin
-------------------
Bixler, Glen G.

Oct 16,1914 - Oct. 5, 2005

GOSHEN-Glen G. Bixler, 90, of 1225 Greencroft Blvd., Goshen, died at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday (Oct 5, 2005) at Greencroft Health Care Center. 

He was born Oct 16, 1914, in Harrison Township to Samuel and Martha (Wenger) Bixler. He married Wilma (Shaum) Bixler on Sept. 4, 1937, in Harrison Township. She died in 2002.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Jane (Doug) Roth of Goshen; one son, Glen S. (Carol) Bixler of Goshen; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Eva Gongwer of Wakarusa.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Iva Hershberger.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Reith-Rohrer-Ehret Funeral Home, 311 S. Main St., Goshen, where funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. Pastors Klaudia Smucker and Firman Gingerich, both of College Mennonite Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Violett Cemetery.

Mr. Bixler was a graduate of Madison Township High School and was the owner and operator of Bixler Insurance Agency for 25 years. In the early 1960s, he produced an educational film depicting the importance and safety of seatbelt use, which he shared with local law enforcement agencies and schools. He was a member of College Mennonite Church, where he also was active in music and Bible teaching. Mr. Bixler also was a member of the Goshen Exchange Club, was on the board of directors for the Goshen Salvation Army, and was active in the early organization of Mennonite Disaster Service.

Memorials may be given to Goshen General Hospital Care at Home, College  Mennonite Church, Center for Healing and Hope, or Greencroft Nursing Center.
Online condolences may be sent at www.rrefh.com.
The Truth, Elkhart, IN
October 7, 2005
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin



Bontrager, Fannie L
., 91, of Beach City, OH died October 24, 2005 after a brief illness.  She was born to Levi & Lizzie (Schlabach) Miller. 

She was married to Roman M. Bontrager, who survives.

Also surviving are children, Ella (Paul) Nafziger, Mary Bontrager, Roy (Ruth) Bontrager, Andy (Theresa) Bontrager, Ron Bontrager, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
 
The funeral was held October 27, 2005 at Longenecker Mennonite Church, Winesburg, Holmes Co., OH with burial in the adjoining cemetery.

She was a member of Mennonite Church USA.
Submitted by: Unknown
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin




Bontrager, Roman M.
, 90, of Beach City, Stark Co., Ohio died November 28, 2005 after a brief illness.  He was born November 28, 1915 at Winesburg, Holmes Co., Ohio to Moses E. & Mattie (Miller) Bontrager.  He was married to Fannie Miller, who is deceased.

Surviving are children, Ella (Paul) Nafziger, Mary Bontrager, Roy (Ruth) Bontrager, Andy (Theresa) Bontrager, Ron (Vickie DeLillo) Bontrager, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are 2 sisters and 1 brother: Ella Erb, Mary Schlabach, and Andrew Bontrager.

Predeceased by a brother, John Bontrager.

The funeral was held December 2, 2005 at Longenecker Mennonite, Winesburg, Holmes Co., OH.

He was a member of Mennonite Church USA.

Submitted by: Unknown
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin



Bowman, Ralph
, 86, of Reedley, CA died August 24, 2005 at Reedley, CA.  He was born June 8, 1919.

Surviving are children, Becky & Jerry Watson, Tim & Paula Bowman, Merry & Mike Titus, Carol & Paul Ebener, 9 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

The funeral was held August 27, 2005 at First Mennonite Church, Reedley, CA and burial was at Reedley, CA.

He was a member of Mennonite Church USA.

Submitted by: Dee Patrick
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin



Boyer, Melody Ann
, 42, died September 22, 2005 in a car accident at.  She was born to Jack and Vernice Mendenhall. 

She was married to Cameron Boyer, who survives.

Also surviving are her father, and children, Brittney, Kemberly, and Riley Boyer.
 
The funeral was held September 26, 2005 at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen, IN

Submitted by: Unknown
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin




Brubacher, Maria Willer
, 83 of Kalona, Iowa died October 24, 2005 of natural causes at Kalona, Iowa.  She was born October 24, 1922 in Siberia, Russia to Jacob & Katharina (Remple) Willer. 

On September 9, 1950 she was married to Richard Brubacher, who survives.
 
The funeral was held October 27, 2005 at Kalona Mennonite Church, Kalona, Iowa with burial in Kalona, Iowa.

She was a member of Mennonite Church USA.

Submitted by: Bonnie Pickard
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin




Brubaker,  Marvin L.
, II, 37, of Dillsburg, PA died December 28, 2005 at home. He was born October 19, 1968 at Allentown, PA, to  Marvin L. and Barbara F. Lamp Brubaker of Dillsburg, PA. He is the husband of Sandra L. Brubaker of Pueblo, CO.
 
He attended Beth El Mennonite Church, Colorado Springs, CO.  He was a 1987 graduate of Lancaster Mennonite High School, and was  active with the Mennonite Central Committee and Chairman of the Mennonite Disaster Service Colorado Unit.
 
Survived by his parents, his wife, Sandra L. Hudock Brubaker of Pueblo, CO; two sisters, Marlene F. Brubaker of Philadelphia, PA. and Margaret G. Schwenk of Shiremanstown, PA; his nieces and nephews, Katarina Brubaker-Escobar, Jacob Brubaker-Escobar, David Schwenk III, Angelica Schwenk, and Jonathan Schwenk; paternal grandmother, Mary Shafer Brubaker of Selinsgrove, PA; and maternal grandmother, Grace E. Landis Lamp of Lancaster, PA.

Funeral services will be held January 6, 2006 at Slate Hill Mennonite Church, Camp Hill, PA with burial in Slate Hill Cemetery.
 
He was a member of Mennonite Church USA
Submitted by Leon Hertzler & Robert Fish
 


Bucher, Mildred L. Alderfer
, 78, of 118 Main St., Salunga, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 9, 2005. She had Parkinson's for the final 15 years. She was born on March 2, 1927. She was the daughter of the late Harvey M. and Susan Landes Alderfer. She was raised in Harleysville, PA, the youngest of four children. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter and Isaiah, and a sister, Marie.

Mildred married John C. Bucher on March 2, 1947. They were married 58 years. Two years after their wedding, they moved to Dover, PA, where they farmed for the next 26 years. During that time, she was also a member and actively involved at Stony Brook Mennonite Church.

Sept. 1975 to Sept. 1977, she and her husband served with Mennonite Voluntary Service in Philadelphia under Eastern Mennonite Missions. While living there, she related to the Oxford Circle Mennonite Church, and enjoyed serving with the VS unit and people in the community.

In 1977 she and her husband moved to Salunga, PA, where she worked as the cook in the kitchen of EMM for 16 years. She also was hostess for the Missionary Closet. She was a member of Erisman Mennonite Church.

She taught Sunday School for many years, sewed comforters and hosted many families in her home, including international students. She especially enjoyed time with her family, including traveling overseas to visit some of them on their mission assignments.

In addition to her husband, John, she is survived by two sons: John Paul Bucher, husband of Esther, of Richmond, VA and Kenneth Bucher, husband of Evie, of Manheim, PA; two daughters: Ruth Mellinger, wife of Jim of Greensboro, NC and Nancy Rotfort, wife of Steve, of Hickory, NC; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held Sunday, December 11, at Erisman Mennonite Church, 8 South Erisman Road, Manheim PA, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Following a private interment at the Erisman Cemetery, there will be a public memorial service on Monday at 6:30 PM at Erisman Mennonite Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P O Box 4125, Lancaster, PA
17604-4125 or EMM, 53 W. Brandt Blvd., Salunga, PA 17538.

Arrangements by the Clyde W. Kraft Funeral Home, Inc., 247 Main St., Landisville, PA.

Intelligencer Journal - 12/10/2005
Lancaster, PA
Submitted by: Robert Fish



Burkhart, Gladys M.
95, of Goshen, IN died November 15, 2005, at Greencroft Healthcare. She was born January 24, 1910, in Newton, KS, to Eli and Fannie (Bare) Burkhart.

A member of College Mennonite Church Goshen, IN.  She had lived in Goshen since 1983.  She had also lived in Tennessee and New York City.

She is survived by nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was November 17, 2005 in the Koinonia Room at College Mennonite Church, Goshen, IN.  Pastors Firman Gingerich and Klaudia Smucker of College Mennonite Church will officiate. Her body has been donated to the I.U. Medical Center, Indianapolis.  
Source: Obituary files of Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, IN
Submitted by: Leon Hertzler



Burkholder, Bessie Mae
, 93, of Ephrata, PA died November 8, 2005 at Fairmount Homes, Ephrata, PA. She was born at Terre Hill, PA, to Harry E. and  Mary Jane (Dennis) Gehr. She was married to the late Isaac H. Burkholder for 66 years.

She was a member of Hammer Creek Mennonite Church, and enjoyed traveling to Florida with her husband.

Surviving are 2 sons, Ivan G. & Gloria (High) Burkholder, Lebanon, PA, and John G., & Janet (Martin) Burkholder, Ephrata, PA, daughter, Esther G. & Ben H. Kreider Annville, PA, brother, Mark R. & Eva Ann (Sweigart) Gehr, Ephrata, PA, sister, Ada E., & Arthur Mohn, Stevens, PA, 12 Grandchildren, and 23 Great-Grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her son Luke, 7 brothers, Paul D., John D., Edwin B., Charles L., Luther C., Arthur W., and Herbert E. Gehr, 2 sisters, Celia S. Stoltzfus and Luella M. Firestone and one grandchild.

Services were held November 12, 2005 at Hammer Creek Mennonite Church, Lititz, PA with Pastors Samuel S. Burkholder, Fred G. Heller and Mervin Gingrich officiating. With burial in the Hess Mennonite Cemetery, Warwick Twp., Lancaster Co., PA
 
She was a member of Mennonite Church USA
Submitted & Edited by Leon Hertzler, Newport, NH
 



Burkholder, Paul Leonard
, 80, of Fairview, Alberta, Canada died October 2, 2005 at Fairview, Alberta of a heart attack.  He was born April 17, 1925 at Tofield, Alberta, Canada to Joseph & Adeline (Lauber) Burkholder. 

On April 27, 1947 he was married to Doris Stalter, who survives with children, Timothy (Sharon Sitler), Owen (Ruth Ann Augsburger), Luanna (Ruben) Friesen, Wyonne (Raymond) Weber, Nancy (Henry) Friesen, Fern (Marcus) Diener, Stanley (Chris Gross) Burkholder, 20 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are siblings Willard (Alma Stalter), Ada (Keith) Francis, Annie (Willis) Snyder, Howard (Dorothy Roth), and Grace (Roy) Reist.

He was predeceased by siblings, Esther, Owen, & Elmer.

The funeral was held October 7, at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Fairview, Alberta, Canada with burial in Waterhole Cemetery, Fairview, Alberta, Canada.

Submitted by: Timothy Burkholder, Goshen, IN
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin
 
Back to MennObits Main Menu

Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved - Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee & Archives
Permission granted to private family researchers to use selected portions of these files to tell their family stories.
May not be mass-produced in any form for commercial purposes.