Burkholder, Fannie Showalter (1884-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Mar 13 p. 11

Birth date: 1884 Jan 14

text of obituary:

MRS. FANNIE BURKHOLDER

Fannie Showalter Burkholder, the first child of Jacob D. and Mary (Heatwole) Showalter, was born on Jan. 14, 1884 near Harrisonburg, Va., and died Feb. 18, 1969 after a lingering illness, at the Wayne County Hospital, Wooster, Ohio, at the age of 85 years, one month, and four days.

As a young girl she realized her need, accepted Christ as her personal Saviour and was baptized by Bishop L. J. Heatwole, uniting with the Weaver's Church near Harrisonburg.

On May 13, 1903 she was married to Joseph A. Burkholder who preceded her in death on Sept. 11, 1950. This union was blessed with eight children, four of whom preceded their mother in death. The surviving children are two sons, Harry Burkholder of Youngstown, Ohio and Joseph Burkholder of Columbiana, Ohio, and two daughters, Mrs. Melvin (Elizabeth) Hostetler and Miss Frances Burkholder of Orrville, Ohio. Surviving also are eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews; three sisters, Mrs. Fred (Margaret) Conrad of Tucson, Ariz., Mrs. Dan (Maude) and Mrs. Claude (Rena) Coakley of Miami, Fla.; a brother, John B. Showalter of Chicago, Ill.

Upon moving to North Lima, Ohio in June 1917 from the Shenandoah Valley, she transferred her membership to the North Lima Mennonite Church, then in 1954 to the Orrville Mennonite Church when she came to Orrville to make her home with her daughter, Elizabeth.

Our mother suffered a broken hip on March 26, 1961 and was bedridden almost eight years. She continued to be patient throughout her extended illness. The Lord's work was uppermost in her heart. On almost every visit we made to the hospital to see her, she would inquire about the work of the church, maintaining her interest until the end of her life on the earth. She was concerned about the welfare of her family and cared lovingly for an invalid daughter as long as health permitted.

Short funeral services were conducted at the Auble Funeral Home at Orrville, Ohio on Feb. 21, at 10:00 a.m. Further services were conducted at the North Lima Mennonite Church at 2:00 p.m. the same day. A. J. Metzler and David Steiner were the officiating clergymen. She was laid to rest at the Midway cemetery near Columbiana, Ohio. — The Family.