The Mennonite - June, 2011

"for the record" - Deaths:


The Mennonite, June 2011, pages 53-55, Vol. 14, No.6.

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Beachy.- John E., 92, Goshen, Ind., died April 18. Spouse: Miriam W. Weaver Beachy. Parents: Eli C. and MaryAnn Kauffman Beachy. Children: John Allen, Kenton, Cheryl Paulovich, Lynette Bauman; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 23 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Bender.- Ross T., 81, Goshen, Ind., died April 21. Spouse: Ruth Steinmann Bender (deceased). Parents: Christian and Katie Bender. Children: Ross Lynn, Elizabeth Barker, Michael, Lenore Challenger, Anne Jacoby; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Memorial service: April 26 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Note: The following Bender information is on page 6.

Ross T. Bender, dean emeritus of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), died April 21 in Goshen, Ind. In his 81 years of life, he devoted himself to service and leadership in the Mennonite church, including congregational, denominational and global ministries. Much of Bender's service was in seminary teaching and administration. He was professor of Christian education at Goshen (Ind.) Biblical Seminary and AMBS, Elkhart, over a span of 34 years. He also served as director of the Institute of Mennonite Studies toward the end of his tenure at AMBS. He was named dean emeritus of AMBS when he retired in 1996. Bender was pastor of congregations in Waterloo, Ontario, and Lansdale, Pa., and was principal of Rockway Mennonite High School before beginning his seminary teaching. From 1961 to 1971, Bender served with the Mennonite Commission for Christian Education. During a two-year leave from the seminary, 1972 to 1974, he was the first executive secretary of Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries. During a later leave, 1984 to 1989, he was pastor of Glennon Heights Mennonite Church, Lakewood, Colo. Bender was moderator of Mennonite Church General Assembly from 1981 to 1983 and president of Mennonite World Conference from 1984 to 1990. He also served on committees for the Mennonite Church, the World Council of Churches and the Association of Theological Schools.

Bowman.- Joanne Gaye Bowman, 56, Brookline, Mass., died March 11 of ovarian cancer. Spouse: John Lawrence Bowman. Parents: Paul Ezra and Ruth Arlene Detwiler Bowman. Children: Sarah Elizabeth Bowman, Phillip Daniel Bowman. Funeral: April 2 at Mennonite Congregation of Boston, Cambridge, Mass.

Burkey.- Arnold A., 88, Milford, Neb., April 6. Spouse: Phyllis Bowen Burkey. Parents: Joseph and Mattie Troyer Burkey. Children: Tim, Sid; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 10 at Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford.

Dyck.- Maria Brandt, 96, Altona, Manitoba, died April 11. Spouse: George H. Dyck (deceased). Parents: Henry F. Brandt and Justina Friesen. Children: Edward, Mabel Wall, Ron; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 16 at Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Altona.

Ebersole.- Seth H., 84, Lititz, Pa., died April 12. Spouse: Virginia Metzler Ebersole. Parents: Benjamin and Laura Hertzler Ebersole. Children: Jane Ebersole, Kathy Kauffman, Charles; six grandchildren. Funeral: April 15 at Akron Mennonite Church, Akron, Pa.

Eby.- Arlene M. Bomberger, 93 Lititz, Pa., died March 30 of congestive heart failure. Spouse: Wilbur M. Eby (deceased). Parents: John M. and Elizabeth L. Landis Bomberger. Children: John W., Lois Hollinger, Beth Weber; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 3 at Blainsport Mennonite Church, Blainsport, Pa.

Geiser.- Ruth Norris, 90, Smithville, Ohio, died April 4. Spouse: Lester W. Geiser (deceased). Parents: Benjamin and Irene Lillard Norris. Children: Betty Buchwalter, Carol Workman, Jeanne Porter, Debra Mast, Harold; 19 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 9 at Orrville Mennonite Church, Orrville, Ohio.

Goertz.- Adalbert Emanuel, 82, Colorado Springs, Colo., died May 7. Spouse: Barbel Kittler Goertz. Parents: Paul Gerhard Goertz and Margarete Goertz Schukat. Children: Claudia, Dirk, Elke, Frauke, Hans-Peter; 12 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Memorial service: May 10 at Beth-El Mennonite Church, Colorado Springs.

Graber.- David J., 77, Kalona, Iowa, died April 20. Spouse: Anna Mae Herschberger Graber. Parents: Joe S. and Sarah Troyer Graber. Children: Connie Ebersole, Joseph, David; eight grandchildren. Funeral: April 25 at Kalona Mennonite Church.

Heatwole.- Fannie R. Martin, 106, Harrisonburg, Va., died March 29. Spouse: Elmer J. Heatwole (deceased). Parents: Daniel R. and Savilla Martin. Children: Dr. Kenneth M., Louise Miller, Dr. Harold F:, Dr. Stanley E.; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 1 at Springdale Mennonite Church, Waynesboro, Va.

Hostetler.- Garrison R., 90, North Canton, Ohio, died April 8. Spouse: Arline Conrad Hostetler. Parents: Alvin and Mary Schloneger Hostetler. Children: Sheila Hostetler, Ted; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: April 12 at Beech Mennonite Church, Louisville, Ohio.

Hostetler.- Kenneth E., 85, Hesston, Kan., died March 28. Spouse: Dora L. Sommer Dettwiler Hostetler. Parents: Frank and Lizzie Zimmerman Hostetler. Step-children: Harry Dettwiler, Ann Schroeder; three grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 31 at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Kale.- William "Bill" H., 89, Hubert, N.C., died May 3. Spouse: Naomi Ruth Basham Kale. Parents: William H. and Edna Leggett Kale. Children: David, Milton, Barbara Libby; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: May 7 at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield, Pa.

Miller.- Ruth Kathryn Mishler, 93, Shipshewana, Ind., died April 4. Spouse:. Ernest Miller. Parents: Homer and Lydia Miller Mishler. Children: Dewayne J., Gerald Keith, Jennifer Kay Miller, Franklin J., Ralph Edward, Dennis Kalb; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 28 at Shore Mennonite Church, Shipshewana.

Nice.- Ruth L., 89, Souderton, Pa., died April 7. Parents: Abram and Katie Landis Nice. Funeral: April 12 at Souderton Mennonite Homes.

Overgaard.- Esther W. Weiler, 91, New Holland, Pa., died March 24. Spouse: Walter C. Overgaard. Parents: Jacob B. and Mable Good Weiler. Children: Lois A. Stetler, Esther F. Gochnauer, Ellen M. Slupe, Linda S. Ferbrache, J. Eric; five grandchildren. Funeral: March 29 at Forest Hills Mennonite Church, Leola, Pa.

Peachey.- Raymond S., 76, Belleville, Pa., died March 24. Spouse: Joanne Kauffman Peachey. Parents: John E. and Katie Spicher Peachey. Children: Sharon, Daryl, Dennis, Delmar; six grandchildren. Funeral: March 28 at Maple Grove Mennonite Church, Belleville.

Penner.- John Edwin, 92, Freeman, S.D., died April 15. Spouse: Beulah Graber Nielsen (deceased). Parents: Jacob and Helena Epp Penner. Children: John A., David; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 23 at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Schmidt.- Gertrude Marie Dyck, 91, North Newton, Kan., died April 28. Spouse: Ernest Schmidt (deceased). Parents: Jacob and Marie Harder Dyck. Children: Carol Klingenberg, Marilyn Van Norden, Michael, Norma Janzen; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Memorial service: May 14 at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.

Schmucker.- Eileen E, 85, Louisville, Ohio, died March 28. Parents: Noah and Eleanor Conrad Schmucker. Funeral: March 30 at Beech Mennonite Church, Louisville.

Schmucker.- Mildred Mary Sommers, 91, Louisville, Ohio, died April 29. Spouse: Elden J. Smucker (deceased). Parents: John and Bertha Taylor Sommers. Children: Ruth Anne Bontreger, Marcia Miller, Eunice Miller, Elva Block; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren. Funeral: May 4 at Beech Mennonite Church, Louisville.

Schrock.- Paul M., 75, long-time editor at Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa., died April 18 at the University of Virginia Medical Center from injuries sustained in an April 15 fall. The accident occurred following a volunteer shift with the Menno Simons Historical Library at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va. During a 41-year career with MPH, Schrock served as assistant to the editor of Gospel Herald, editor of the children's magazine Words of Cheer (later On the Line) and founding editor of Purpose magazine. Later, he was book editor and vice president of publishing of Herald Press Trade Books. During a two-year stint in Harrisonburg, he produced "The Mennonite Hour" and "Way to Life" radio programs and taught at EMU. He also operated a stock photo business for many years. As book editor, Schrock shaped the publication of more than 750 books, including the best-selling More-With-Less Cookbook, the award-winning The Upside-Down Kingdom and the Believers Church Bible Commentary series. Schrock was born in Tangent, Ore., graduated from Western Mennonite School in 1954 and from EMU in 1958, and earned a master's degree in journalism from Syracuse University in 1963. Paul was married for 53 years to June (Bontrager) Schrock, who survives, along with children Carmen (and Luke) Schrock-Hurst of Harrisonburg, Brent Schrock of Lititz, Pa., and Andrea Schrock Wenger (and Delbert) of Broadway, Va., and grandchildren Grace, Lucas and Caleb Schrock-Hurst, and Eli and Leah Wenger. A funeral was held at Park View Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg) April 21; memorial service and burial were held in Scottdale April 29. Memorial contributions may be made to Booksavers of Virginia, 731 Mount Clinton Pike #B, Harrisonburg, VA 22802-5463, where Paul was a regular volunteer.

Scott.- Sarah Yoder, 86, Morgantown, Pa., died March 27. Spouse: William I. Scott (deceased). Parents: David S. and Emma Stoltzfus Yoder. Step-children: Carolyn Arnold, Susan Scott, Linda Reed, Bill Scott, Bob Scott, Sharon Dilks; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 30 at Conestoga Mennonite Church, Morgantown.

Shenk.- Ezra William, 95, Wellman, Iowa, died April 23. Spouse: Sara Marie Kauffman Shenk. Spouse: Carrie Helena Swartzendruber Shenk (deceased). Parents: Abram and Malinda Good Shenk. Funeral: April 27 at Wellman Mennonite Church.

Stoltzfus.- Minnie A. Yoder, 89, Leola, Pa., died April 14. Spouse: Mark P. Stoltzfus. Parents: Levi and Lydia Peachey Yoder. Children: Etta Esch, Wilma Eby, Dale, Muriel King, Sara Bushong, Beth Martin; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 18 at Ridgeview Mennonite Church, Gordonville, Pa.

Troyer.- David W., 68, Shipshewana, Ind., died April 7 of heart problems. Parents: Glenn and Luella Christner Troyer. Children: Sharleen DeJohn, Shalisa Baxter, Sheila Tarnow, Shari Troyer; eight grandchildren. Funeral: April 14 at Shore Mennonite Church, Shipshewana.

Wipf.- John S., 82, Scottsdale, Ariz., died April 27 of pneumonia. Spouse: Gloria Wipf (deceased). Parents: Sam K. and Lydia Wipf. Children: John Jr., Paulette Stravitz; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 30 at Sunnyslope Mennonite Church, Phoenix, Ariz.

Yoder.- Polly, 83, Sun City, Ariz., died March 25 of heart problems. Spouse: Clayton L. Yoder (deceased). Children: Gary, Steve, Pam Watson, Beth Yoder; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 1 at Sunnyslope Mennonite Church, Phoenix, Ariz.

Transcribed by: John Ingold



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