Obituaries

Joan E. Shoffstall, 75, of Lancaster, passed away on Friday, June 13, 2014 at Hospice & Community Care.  She was the loving wife of John F. “Fred” Shoffstall, Jr.Born in Lancaster, PA, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Grace (Feister) Smith.She graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School in 1956.   In addition to being a loving wife and...

Barry Scott Smithson died unexpectedly in his home in Fort Worth Texas on June 10, 2014.Barry was born on December 23, 1964 in Lancaster PA.  He is a graduate of McCaskey High School.He is survived by his parents, Deldonna Forrest and Robert Smithson, Sr., both of Lancaster, PAHe is also survived by his wife, Christine, and her two sons, Zachary...

Ellen (Barber) Waldeck stepped into eternity on June 6, 2014, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.Ellen was born on Jan. 31, 1947 in Cedarhurst, NY.  She was the daughter of the late Ernest and Frances (Andrews) Barber.Ellen received her bachelor’s degree in English and Biology Education from Bowling Green State University (OH), where she earned many academic honors and...

Jeannette M. Sandoe, 96, formerly of 220 N. Franklin St., Lancaster, PA, died Thursday, June 12, 2014 at Conestoga View.She was the widow of George R. Sandoe who died July 9, 1996.  Born in Lancaster, she was the daughter of the late George C. and Mary Elizabeth Gormley Simmons.  Surviving are a son, Stanley, husband of Linda Sandoe of Lebanon,...

Mary Anne Rudisill Graybill of Homestead Village, Lancaster, PA, died Tuesday, June 10, 2014.  She was the wife of Dr. John B. Graybill to whom she was married 71 years.  She was born in York, PA, the eldest child of James Jefferson and Mary Little Rudisill.  She lived in Barrington, Rhode Island for 38 years, moving to Lancaster in 1982...

Arlyne R. McCue, 90, of Lancaster, passed away on Monday, June 9, 2014 at Lancaster General Hospital.  She was the loving wife of William P. McCue to whom she was married to for 37 years.  Born in Philadelphia, PA, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Ruth (Dougherty) Stahl.She spent her career as a seamstress and tailor and...

Elsie V. Kurtz, 95, a resident of the Mennonite Home, died Saturday, June 7, 2014.She was the wife of the late Robert S. Kurtz who died in 1989.  Born in Columbia, she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Lena Himes Stewart.Elsie was a graduate of Columbia High School.  Early in life she had worked as a hair dresser...

Robert O. Moyer, 92, formerly of Seitz Drive, Lancaster, died Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at Manor Care of Lancaster.He was married 51 years to the late Virginia A. Haas Moyer, who passed away in 2013. Born in Hamburg, Berks County, he was the son of the late Robert C. Moyer and Katie Elizabeth Moyer.Bob attended Hamburg High School before enlisting...

Charmaine A. Hildebrand, 71, of Lancaster, PA passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at Hospice & Community Care surrounded by family and friends. She was the loving wife of Glenn R. Hildebrand.Born in Lancaster, PA she was the daughter of the late Thomas Sr. and Alice (Riker) Marion. Charmaine’s biological father, William Riker, was killed in Normandy when she...

Patricia F. Rylee, “Mrs. Compassion,” 84, of Lancaster, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at Lancaster General Hospital.  She was the loving wife of the late Robert C. Rylee.  Born in Lancaster, PA, she was the daughter of the late William A., Sr. and Lillian R. (Snader) McManus.She graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School and spent much of...

William A. Rineer, 89, formerly of Rohrerstown, a resident of Oak Leaf Manor, Landisville, died Saturday, May 31, 2014. He was the husband of the late Thelma Rankin Rineer who died in 1975.  Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Amos B. and Anna S. Breneisen Rineer. William retired as a machinist from RCA in 1984 where...

Edna B. Hochstetler, 97, of Denver, wife of the late Cornelius (Neal) passed to her heavenly home on June 3, 2014 after two weeks of declining health.Edna leaves precious memories for daughter Cornelia, who lived with her, and four sons; John (Anne) of Denver, with whom she resided, Wayne (Lois) Illinois, Dennis (Sharon) Colorado, and Walter (Sue) Red Lake, Ontario....

Shirley M. Rand, 88, of 891 Ivy Drive, Lancaster, PA, died Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at the Glen at Willow Valley, after struggling with an illness that started in January of 2014. Shirley moved to Pennsylvania in May of 2013 to live with one of her daughters, Paula R. Kiernan. Shirley died the day after her 88th birthday, having lived...

Gordon B. Wolfer, 81, of Lancaster died May 26, 2014 at Hospice and Community Care. Born October 5, 1932 in Lancaster to the late Alvin D. and Katherine Wolfer. Gordon was the husband of Nancy Chryst Wolfer.Gordon attended J.P. McCasky High School and upon graduation he joined the Army and served in the Honor Guard during the Korean Conflict. After...

Grover G. Bledsoe, Jr., 90, of Lancaster, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2014 at Hospice & Community Care.  He was the loving husband of the late Janice (Moore) Bledsoe.  Born in Abingdon, VA, he was the son of the late Grover G. Bledsoe, Sr. and Mary O. (Wilbar) Bledsoe.Grover graduated from Fulton High School in Lancaster County and Penn...

Gordon Paul Loptson, 86, of Willow Street, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on May 13, 2014.  A gifted teacher, Gordon’s life-long commitment to his faith and love of learning led him across countries and continents, and included such diverse occupations as farm hand, painter, pastor, missionary, counselor, teacher, college professor, and labor analyst.  As...

Esther E. “Aunt Mike” Bracken, 81, of Lancaster, passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at Hospice & Community Care.  She was the loving wife of the late Perry G. Bracken, Sr. who passed away in 1996.  Born in Nanty Glo, PA, she was the daughter of the late Joseph W. and Elizabeth M. (Gore) Little.Esther spent much of her...

Richard E. Omundsen, 85, of Lancaster, PA, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 17that Brethren Village.Born in Staten Island, New York, Mr. Omundsen was the son of the late Oscar and Julia Ganss Omundsen.  He was the husband of the late Dorothy Huttar Omundsen, who died in September, 2009.He received his B.A. degree from Oswego State Teachers College, and his Master’s...

Elaine J. Terranova, 70, of Lancaster, died Monday, May 12, 2014 at Hospice and Community Care in Mount Joy.Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of Anthony Terranova of Gap and the late Mildred McFarlane Terranova.Elaine had retired from Armstrong World Industries where she had been employed as a graphic artist for 49 years.  In retirement she enjoyed working at...

Jane W. Singer, 96, a resident of the Mennonite Home, died Friday, May 9, 2014 at the home.Born in Lancaster, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Anna Wisner Wagner.Jane retired from Armstrong World Industries where she had been employed in the payroll department for nearly 50 years.  She was a graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School.She was...