If this site was useful to you, we'd be happy for a small donation. Be sure to enter "MLA donation" in the Comments box.
Gerber, Delvin E. (1911-1949)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Jun 9 p. 1
Birth date: 1911
text of obituary:
FATHER OF TWO KILLED IN OHIO HIGHWAY ACCIDENT
Kidron, Ohio. — Funeral services were held at the Mennonite church here on Wednesday afternoon, June 1, for Delvin E. Gerber, 38, who was instantly killed in a highway accident near Bowling Green on Sunday.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Jul 21 p. 8
text of obituary:
Kidron Was Shocked
(EDITOR’S NOTE: In a recent issue, the Review reported the unusual highway accident in which Delvin Gerber was instantly killed when he and his family were pinned under a semi-truck which overturned because of going too fast around a corner.
This short article by Delvin’s brother, published in the Gospel Herald, emphasizes some of the challenges deriving from our dangerous mode of living. Perhaps the frequency of these tragedies has dulled our senses. Yet, what could be a more earnest admonition to be ready to meet our Lord at any moment!)
On a clear Sunday afternoon (May 29) we were shocked by a telephone message telling of the instant death of my brother Delvin in an automobile accident. , His companion, Esther, and Lowell, age 5, and Keith, age 2, escaped with very minor injuries. Esther remarked to Delvin, as she saw the large semi-truck approaching too fast, weaving on the road, “What if that would hit us?” Delvin made no remark (there was no time for it) but his hand was on the horn, apparently trying to warn the “wildcat driver” (as the patrolman called him) of his approach.
Many hundreds of strangers at the scene of the accident were moved to tears by the cries of Keith, who was pinned in the car for nearly two hours. He was naturally scared. No one could get to him until four wreckers removed the semi-truck from the car. in the process, a stalwart patrolman with tears running down his cheeks, tried his best to soothe the boy. Rather than continuing with details of this tragedy, I present some challenges from this experience.
A tribute to Delvin’s life could be, “I want to so live that when my time on earth is finished, I am ready ‘in an instant’ to meet the Lord.”
We cannot replace Delvin, but we CAN replace our lives with a far richer and deeper Christian living. Delvin lived his life dynamically for his Lord by a noble, clean life. others too were impressed by his true devotion to Christ rather than by many spoken words.
Kidron was shocked by such a tragedy. Lives that have been a bit careless have already, within two weeks, shown more spiritual interest and concern for more godly living.
My tribute to Delvin’s life is, “I praise God that He allowed him to live this long as an inspiration to me. It spurs me on to live a more abundant life.