Longenecker, Henry Z. (1909-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Feb 7 p. 8

Birth date: 1909

text of obituary:

HENRY Z. LONGENECKER

Henry Z. Longenecker, 91, of Lancaster, Pa., and formerly of Middletown, died Jan. 10, 2005, at Mennonite Home. He was born to Harry and Irene Zimmerman Longenecker in Middletown.

He was the husband of Nancy Frey Longenecker. He worked as a farmer, produce and meat route salesman and also worked at the former Longenecker Meats of Middletown until the early 1980s.

He was an active member of Steelton Mennonite Church. He served as a district director for Mennonite Disaster Service and also directed the Elizabethtown Area Mennonite Chorus and the Singing Men of Praise. He was a well loved and respected song leader throughout Lancaster Mennonite Conference from the 1930s to the 1960s. He also sang with the men's quartet for WGCB, Red Lion radio station on Sunday afternoons.

He was instrumental in the beginning of Camp Hebron in Halifax and assisted as a volunteer with the Bible study ministry at Dauphin Manor of Harrisburg. He enjoyed gardening, bird-watching, people and word-search puzzles.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy; five daughters, Marian G. Burkholder and her husband, James, of Dillsburg, Carolyn M. Horst and her husband, Lowell, of Elizabethtown, Elaine M. Clymer and her husband, James, of Fresno, Calif., Gloria L. Lehman and her husband, Galen, of Singers Glen, Va., and Nancy Ellen Pellegrini and her husband, Wayne, of Glenmoore; a brother, Elmer Z. Longenecker of Chambersburg; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rachael A. Metzler, in 1965, and three brothers.

Services were held at Steelton Mennonite Church. Burial was in Shope's Mennonite Cemetery.