Obituaries
Kaylene M. Burkholder
Mar 10, 2026
Kaylene M. Burkholder, age 2 years, 2 months and 27 days,of Ephrata, entered into rest on March 10, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of Lester and Lois Ann Burkholder. She attended Martindale Mennonite Church-Groffdale Conference with her family.
In addition to her parents, Kaylene is survived by her siblings, Joanna and Brendan at home, her grandparents,...
Grace L. Discavage
Mar 7, 2026
Grace (Smith) Discavage, 86, went home to be with the Lord on March 7, 2026. She passed peacefully with her devoted husband of 65 years, James Discavage, by her side.
She was born in Cresson, PA and was the daughter of the late Francis and Mary (Gailey) Smith.
In addition to her husband, James, she is survived by: Her son Michael and...
Leanne Y. Sensenig
Mar 6, 2026
Leanne Y. Sensenig, 52,of Narvon, died unexpectedly at home on Friday, March 6, 2026. She was the loving wife of Troy A. Sensenig for 33 years.
Born in Ephrata, she was the daughter of Larry S. Martin, Ephrata and the late Kathryn H. (Gehman) Martin.
Leanne was a homemaker who enjoyed crafting, card games and helping with her grandchildren. She was a...
Judith Ann Fisher
Mar 5, 2026
Judith Ann Fisher, 67, of East Earl, passed away at Lancaster General Hospital on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
She was married 42 years to Alan J. Fisher. Born in Lancaster, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Ethel Miller Yelk.
Judy retired from Garden Spot Village where she had been employed in the Housekeeping Department. She enjoyed crafting with her...
Kathryn Elizabeth Kochel
Mar 4, 2026
Kathryn E. Kochel, 97, a resident of Fairmount Homes, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
She was the wife of the late John H. Kochel who died in 2011. Born in Ephrata Twp, she was the daughter of the late Horace A. and Eva Stauffer Wanner.
Kathryn was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Denver.
Surviving are...
Betty Lou Watson
Mar 3, 2026
Betty was born and raised in Philadelphia. After graduating high school, she and an adventurous friend moved to Los Angeles, California. There she met Raymond Watson, her future husband, who had made a similar journey to LA from Maine. After marriage and having her son Thomas, they moved back east to be closer to their families. Ray’s work took them...
Ruth Ann Horning
Mar 3, 2026
Ruth Ann Horning, 83, of Brecknock Township passed peacefully at her home on Tuesday March 3, 2026, with family by her side.
Ruth Ann was the daughter of the late Paul W. and Anna Mary (Groff) Wise. She was a much loved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was wife of the late Harvey W. Horning Jr. with whom she shared...
Emma May Shirk
Mar 1, 2026
Emma May Shirk, 89, a resident of Maple Farm Nursing Center, passed away on March 1, 2026.
Born in East Earl, she was the daughter of the late Theodore Kenneth and Ida May (McAfee) Bannon.
She was the wife of the late I. Eugene Shirk, with whom she shared 52 years of marriage until the time of his passing on November 8,...
Amos G. Hahn
Feb 28, 2026
Amos G Hahn, 79, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL, from an acute blood infection. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Joy Coblentz, his brother, Norman Hahn, husband of Elizabeth, and two sisters, Anna wife of the late Warren Martin and baby Esther Hahn. He was a member of Weaverland Mennonite...
William C. Gable, Jr.
Feb 28, 2026
William C. “Bill” Gable, Jr., a lifelong resident of the New Holland and Blue Ball communities, passed away on February 28, 2026. Born to the late William C. Gable, Sr. and Janet L. Gable, Bill graduated from Garden Spot High School in 1969 and attended Muhlenberg College. His career included early work in information technology, with 25 years at Blue...
Erik M. Sherman
Feb 25, 2026
Erik M. Sherman, 43, passed away on February 25, 2026.
Erik lived and died with a tremendously courageous and resilient spirit; he had a quiet yet fierce inner strength. Erik's life can be a lesson for all of us. No amount of hardship, loss or pain can make us turn bitter or dim our own inner light unless we choose to...
L. Lloyd Ruoss
Feb 25, 2026
L. Lloyd Ruoss, 89, of Marriottsville, MD, passed away on February 25, 2026.
Born in Pottstown, he was the son of the late L. Lloyd and Eva (Haas) Ruoss.
He was the husband of the late Myra (Hacker) Ruoss, who passed in 2009 and is the husband of Joy (Moore) Ruoss, with whom he has shared 15 years of marriage.
He was a...
Luke Ray Zimmerman
Feb 25, 2026
Luke Ray Zimmerman 85, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Lincoln Christian Home. He was preceded in death by his wife Arlene (Nolt) Zimmerman. He was a member of Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church.
He was a lifelong farmer, dairyman, truck driver, and previous owner of Country Sugar. The grandchildren remember Grandpa for his food, whether it was a snack...
Karene Swartz Zimmerman
Feb 22, 2026
Karene Swartz Zimmerman, 81, a resident of Landis Homes, entered her place in heaven on February 22, 2026.
She was the wife of Mark B. Zimmerman for over 56 years. Born in West Chester, PA, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Wanda Swartz.
Karene spent most of her life in Chester County except for high school, Eastern Mennonite School...
H. William Church-Smith
Feb 21, 2026
H. William “Bill” Church- Smith, 85, of Elizabethtown, passed away on February 21, 2026 at Lancaster General Hospital.
Born in Smithville Flats, NY, he was the son of the late Herbert W. and Elsie Marie (Bottle) Church-Smith.
He was the husband of the late Diana Lee “Dee Dee” (Walker) Church-Smith, who passed on October 9, 2020.
After his retirement, he enjoyed gardening, quilting,...
Melvin Edward Martin
Feb 20, 2026
Melvin Edward Martin, 63, of Ephrata, passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Born in Ephrata, he was the son of the late Melvin S. and Elizabeth Z. Burkholder Martin and the stepson of the late Mary Z. Burkholder Nolt Martin.
Melvin spent most of his life in the sales and service of ATV’s and was the owner of...
Mabel B. Dagen
Feb 17, 2026
Mabel B. Dagen, 88, a resident of Landis Homes, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
She was the wife of the late Jacob L. Dagen, Jr., who died February 12, 2024. Born in New Danville, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Rebecca (Hertzler) Bauman.
Mabel was a homemaker and worked for a time...
Barbara A. Burkhart
Feb 16, 2026
My mom, Barbara Burkhart, loved helping others and devoted her life to doing so. She donated years of her life to the Fivepointville Ambulance then found the will and the time to study, to learn, to sacrifice her time for others as a paramedic for the Ephrata Hospital. She was married to my dad, Stanley Burkhart, and she had two...
Charles Horning "Junie" Sauder
Feb 16, 2026
Charles Horning “Junie” Sauder, 88, died Monday, February 16, 2026, at Fairmount Homes. He is survived by his wife, Mary H. (Horst) Sauder. They would have been married 70 years in April.
Born in Ephrata, he was the son of the late Charles E. and Eva (Horning) Sauder.
Charles was the founder of C. H. Sauder Trucking, East Earl.
He was a member...
Jordan Cole Hurst
Feb 16, 2026
Jordan Cole Hurst was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on February 16, 2026.
He was the infant son of Nelson Ray and Marlene Martin (Weaver) Hurst, Terre Hill.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his siblings, Austin, Zachary and Travis Hurst, all at home, grandparents, Aaron husband of Arlene Hurst of Terre Hill and Titus husband of Martha...
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