Zook, Ella M. (1870-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 Dec 24 p. 11 (bio)

Birth date: 1870 Dec 13

text of obituary:

100th Birthday Observed By Widow of Minister

Mrs. Ella M. Zook knitting bandages.

Allensville, Pa. — The 100th birthday of Mrs. Ella M. Zook of Allensville was celebrated with a family dinner on Dec. 12 and open house at her home for relatives and friends on Monday, Dec. 14.

Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a few friends attended the chicken dinner, served at the Allensville Grange Hall by young people of the Allensville Mennonite church. Among the greetings received by the centenarian was one from President and Mrs. Richard Nixon.

Mrs. Zook makes her home with two daughters, Misses Anna and Bertha Zook, on Allensville's main street. Still active and alert, she helps with the housework and keeps busy making bandages for overseas mission and relief fields. She knits bandages, and also makes them by rolling strips from old sheets. She carries on correspondence with family members and friends and keeps up with current events by listening to the radio and reading church periodicals.

Mrs. Zook regularly attends services at the Allensville Mennonite Church. She was born at nearby McVeytown on Dec. 13, 1870, and lived in that community until she was 21 when she came to this Kishacoquillas Valley community. Here she married Joshua B. Zook on March 12, 1893. He was minister in the Allensville Mennonite church for 49 years, serving until a few years before his death. The couple observed their 62nd wedding anniversary.

Besides the two daughters with whom she lives, Mrs. Zook has three other living children. They are Chauncey of Allensville, Mrs. Elmer (Catherine) Yoder of Belleville, and Miss Fannie Zook of Reading. There are 19 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Feb 10 p. 8

text of obituary:

COUNTY'S OLDEST WOMAN DIES

Belleville, Pa. — Funeral services for Mrs. Ella M. Zook, 101, of Allensville, were held at the Allensville Mennonite Church on Jan. 27, with Rev. Paul Bender, Rev. Elrose Hartzler, Rev. Waldo Miller and Rev. Raymond Peachey officiating.

A native of the McVeyton area, Mrs. Zook was the oldest female resident of Mifflin County. She was a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth Hertzler Zook. Her husband, Joshua B. Zook, preceded her in death in 1954.

Survivors include five children, 15 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren.