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.
2006
- L
Feb. 8, 1910-Nov. 14, 2006
Rev. Etril J. Leinbach, 96, 1801 Greencroft Blvd., died at
11:10 p.m. Tuesday at Goshen General Hospital, where he’d been a
patient since Nov. 11. He was born Feb. 8, 1910 in Nappanee to Leander
Garber and L. Anna Leinbach.
He married Wilma Pearl Pletcher Oct. 7, 1933 in Middlebury. She
survives. He attended New Paris High School, audited at Goshen College
and took classes at Goshen Biblical Seminary. He was a member of
Clinton Frame Mennonite Church.
He served on almost every committee of the Indiana and Michigan Church
Conference and was a delegate to the General Assembly Conference of
North America for six Mennonite world conferences. He visited 47
states in the United States, and 17 foreign countries.
He worked at Western Rubber in Goshen from 1930 to 1939 and had a bread
route in Millersburg, Benton, Syracuse and North Webster. In 1939 he
purchased half interest in Pletcher Dairy in Middlebury. As a pastor he
worked part-time wallpapering and painting and drove a mail truck from
White Pigeon to Kalamazoo, Mich. Also, he drove a school bus for 15
years and worked in a cabinet shop for eight years.
He became an ordained minister in 1948 and served a total of 40 years.
He served 20 of those years at Moore Park Mennonite Church in Michigan;
eight years at Valparaiso Mennonite Church; and retired in 1976. He was
an interim pastor for three years at Benton Mennonite Church and six
and half years at Emma Mennonite Church.
Along with his wife, he is survived by two sons, Keith (Vi) Leinbach,
Haven, Kan., Dale (Edie) Leinbach, Toccoa, Ga.; nine grandchildren; 15
great-grandchildren; three half sisters, Dorcas Snyder, Goshen; Violet
(John) Kaufman, Goshen, Cora Askrin, Goshen; and two half brothers,
Verlin Garber, Boston and Keith (Roma) Anglemyer, Wakarusa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three half sisters, Myrtle
Shaum, Lovina Hershberger and Hazel Toney; and a half brother, Leroy
Garber.
Friends and family may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 2 to 4
p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. A
memorial service will take place at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Clinton Frame
Mennonite Church with the Revs. Terry Diener and Jeff Mumaw, and family
friend Brooks Henry.
There will be a private family burial service at Clinton Union
Cemetery, Goshen.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mennonite Mission Network or to
the donor’s choice.
Online condolences can be made at www.yoderculpfuneralhome.com.