Alma E. Eby

Alma E. Eby, 84, of New Holland passed away at Ephrata Community Hospital early Monday morning, March 9, 2015. She was born June 9, 1930, on the Eby homestead near Gordonville, the youngest daughter of the late Ira M. and Ella (Book) Eby.

She was a 1947 graduate of Lancaster Mennonite High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite College (now University) in 1956. While a student at EMC, she sang with the college touring chorus. Following college, she taught 3rd grade for two years at Franconia Mennonite School. From 1958-1961 she served with Eastern Mennonite Missions at the School for the Blind in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Following her overseas stint, Alma resumed teaching at Franconia Mennonite School where she taught 1st grade from 1961-1966. She received a master’s degree from Millersville State College (now University) in 1967 after which she taught 2nd grade at New Holland Elementary School until 1973.

An avid reader, Alma became the owner of the Book Passage in New Holland West Business Center. For 25 years she dealt in used up-to-date reading material. She volunteered at the New Holland ReUzit Store, a benefit thrift store for MCC; she had the job of setting up the sewing and craft supplies in the new store to which they moved in 2010. Her two favorite hobbies were collecting old post cards and bird watching. She found the months of February through mid-June a delightful time to visit Middle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. She attended and was involved with the New Holland Mennonite Church, mostly in teaching responsibilities.

She was predeceased by her six siblings: Lloyd M., Clair B., Marian L. Wenger, Paul H., Willis B., and Ellen R. Shearer. She is survived by a sister-in-law Kathryn Eby Landis and a brother-in-law Harold Shearer and many nieces and nephews with whom she faithfully stayed in contact.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 13, 2015 at 7 p.m. at New Holland Mennonite Church, 18 Western Ave., New Holland with Pastor Dawn Ranck Hower officiating. A visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 6 – 7 p.m. Private interment will be in Paradise Mennonite Cemetery. If desired, memorials may be sent to New Holland ReUzit Shop, 707 W. Main St., New Holland, PA 17557 or Eastern Mennonite Missions, P. O. Box 458, Salunga, PA 17538-0458. The Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be posted at www.groffeckenroth.com.