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Hershey, Lester T. (1912-2007)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Nov 19 p. 7
Birth date: 1912 Nov 28
text of obituary:
By Mennonite Mission Network
PORT ASHBY, W.Va. — As a mission worker in Puerto Rico in 1947, Lester T. Hershey thought a secular medium, radio, could be used to spread the gospel across Puerto Rico.
From Hershey's original idea, a Spanish-language radio program emerged within the Puerto Rican Mennonite Church, first called the Hour of Calvary and later Light and Truth.
What was meant to communicate across Puerto Rico eventually aired on 88 stations worldwide. Hershey served as director and the voice of the Light and Truth Spanish broadcast for more than 30 years.
Hershey, 94, died Nov. 3 at his home.
Some leaders of the Puerto Rican Mennonite Church credit the radio ministry, which for a time was a part of a predecessor agency of Mennonite Media, with helping row a Puerto Rican Mennonite presence that his spread across North America.
Despite health concerns, Hershey traveled more than 400 miles to take part in the festivities. His determination was no surprise to Angel Luis Miranda, a retired Puerto Rican pastor and chaplain now living in Goshen, Ind., who worked with Hershey in the Mennonite Academy (Summit Hills) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"We have a saying in Spanish — va a morir con las botas — he's going to die with his boots on," Miranda said. "[Hershey] was busy all of the time."
Miranda knows of several members of his churches who came to faith at least in part because of the Light and Truth program. At least once a year, he said, members of a youth organization would plan a program. Miranda said the opportunity to speak on the air about their faith helped in the Christian development of many young Puerto Ricans.
Hershey was born Nov. 28, 1912, at Youngstown, Ohio, the son of Tobias K. Hershey and Mae Hertzler Hershey. He grew upin Argentina, where his parents were mission workers with MBM. He was married to Alta Good for 46 years.
Surviving is a son, Lester Eugene Hershey of Richmond, Va.; two daughters, Janice Jo Livengood of Short Gap, W.Va., and Sherilyn Layne of Mechanicsville, Va.; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
An ordained Mennonite minister for 68 years, Hershey served as an overseas mission worker in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Spain and as a pastor in Chicago, Pinto, Md., Washington, D.C., and Martinsburg, Pa. He also served as an evangelist in several Latin American countries.
Funeral services were held Nov. 10 at Pinto Mennonite Church.
