Mildred Irene (Graber) Stoltzfus, 77, of Harrisonburg, passed away Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, surrounded in song by family members.
Mildred was born on May 5, 1932, in Wayland, Iowa, the daughter of the late Christian L. and Mina (Roth) Graber. She was the fifth of six children: Areta
Lehman, Gladys Beyler, Lucille Swartzendruber, Lois Bender and the late Richard Graber.
Mildred grew up in Goshen, Ind., and graduated from Goshen College with a bachelor's degree in English and elementary education. She taught in the public school systems in Ohio, Indiana and Iowa. She was a teacher at Community Preschool (formerly Community Child Care Center) from 1983 to 1998 and continued as a substitute teacher until 2008.
Mildred was an active member of the Park View Mennonite Church including ministry as elder, Sunday school teacher, 2009 president of Mennonite Women and choir member. She sang in three other local choirs: Daughters of Song, Shenandoah Valley Choral Society and the festival choir of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. She volunteered for many years at Gift and Thrift and provided volunteer financial management for Social Services.
Mildred's students knew her kind and gentle spirit, though she was also a tenacious player of word and logic games and an avid swimmer. She maintained an active interest in the cultural and political issues of our day. A pastor's wife for two decades, she hosted friends and travelers in her home and enjoyed touring internationally with her husband.
Mildred was married in 1954 to the Rev. Edward B. Stoltzfus, who survives. They have four children: Rebecca Stoltzfus of Saugerties, N.Y., Anita Breckbill of Lincoln, Neb., Eric Stoltzfus of Mount Rainier, Md., and Philip Stoltzfus of Northfield, Minn., and eight grandchildren, who all survive her.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at Park View Mennonite Church with pastors Phil Kniss and Barbara Moyer Lehman officiating. The family will receive visitors 6 to 8 p.m. Monday (this evening) at Park View Mennonite Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the music and library programs of Parkview Mennonite Church, 1600 College Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
www.kygers.com
