Margaret R. Eby

Margaret R. Eby, 83, of Akron, died Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at her home.

Born in Farmington, DE; she was a daughter of the late Eli and Lucy (Bender) Schrock. She celebrated 55 years of marriage to Roy Z. Eby. She is greatly loved and dearly missed.

Raised in Greenwood, DE, Margaret followed her mother’s footsteps in becoming a registered nurse. Upon her pinning, Margaret joined the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and spent two years of service at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, Deschapelles, Haiti. She returned to Philadelphia and worked in the emergency room of Jefferson Memorial Hospital. There, she met Roy, who shared an MCC experience, and they quickly married and began a family.

With early years in the city, they eventually moved to Lancaster County and purchased a motel and adjoining properties which Margaret ran and later converted into a personal care home for mentally ill. A pioneer in this industry, Margaret launched several additional homes and lead efforts that shaped industry regulations in the State of Pennsylvania and nationally. Her generosity and compassion for vulnerable individuals touched countless lives. In parallel, she lovingly raised her family on a historic active dairy farm in Paradise, Pennsylvania.

She was a faithful fiduciary to veterans and diligent manager of investments. Margaret was dedicated to schools for children in Haiti, El Salvador, and the Congo. She supported the University of Hawaii Matsunaga Institute of Peace, Center for Global Non-Killing, and numerous causes. Within Akron Mennonite Church, she led efforts to integrate refugees from the Congo.

Surviving in addition to her husband are four children, Denise (Abel) Konan of Honolulu, HI, David (Amy Miller) Eby of Tokyo, Japan, Diane Eby of Greenwood, DE, Sarah Eby of Akron, PA;

Four grandchildren, Alexander Eby, Joseph Konan, Roy Konan, and Payton Eby-Mast;

Six sisters and a brother, Betty Sharp, Cora Tennefoss, Anna Brenneman, Olive Mast, Wanda Kehl, Eli Truman Schrock, and Sarah Escaro and their families.

Preceding her in death is brother, Millard “Buddy” Schrock and sister, Doris Schrock.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on May 4, 2019 at Akron Mennonite Church. Interment will be in the Paradise Mennonite Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made out to University of Hawaii Foundation on behalf of the Margaret and Roy Eby Peace Scholarship, c/o Matt Henry, PO Box 11270, Honolulu, HI 96828 (https://giving.uhfoundation.org/funds/12924304). To send the family online condolences and tributes visit us at www.groffeckenroth.com. Arrangements by Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland.