Burkholder, Harold E. (1931-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Mar 9 p. 8

Birth date: 1931 Jan 27

text of obituary:

HAROLD E. BURKBOLDHER

Harold E. Burkholder, 77, of Baltimore, Md., died Jan. 15, 2009, of complications from a stroke. He was born Jan. 27, 1931, to Clarence A. and Blanche (Herr) Burkholder near Lancaster, Pa.

He married Mary Jane Myers on June 16, 1951.

He was baptized at Mellinger Mennonite Church of Lancaster and was a 1948 graduate of East Lampeter High School of Witmer Heights, Pa.

In July 1953, he and his wife moved from near Lancaster to Baltimore to join a mission project, beginning Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church, where he served as a licensed minister and had various other responsibilities. He was active with several other church plants in the Baltimore area and served on the board of Mount Clare Christian School. He was regional director for Mennonite Disaster Service and a board member of Camp Andrews, Holtwood, Pa.

He was employed by Electric Motor Repair Co. of Baltimore as a master electrician for almost 50 years. One of his favorite tasks was working on electric motors aboard ships anchored in the Baltimore harbor.

Survivors include his wife, Jane; two sons, J. Michael Burkholder of Baltimore and David K. Burkholder and his wife, Rosemary, of Woodbridge, Va.; two daughters, Ruth Ann Gochnauer and her husband, James, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Barbara Sue Liberto and her husband, Stephen, of Ellicott City; two brothers, J. Richard Burkholder and his wife, Susan, of Goshen, Ind., and Charles A. Burkholder and his wife, Aleda, of Green Valley, Ariz.; 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at Catonsville. Burial was in New Cathedral Cemetery of Baltimore.