Hershberger, Ervin N. (1914-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Oct 27 p. 12

Birth date: 1914 Apr 17

text of obituary:

ERVIN N. HERSHBERGER

Ervin N. Hershberger, 89, of Meyersdale, Pa., died Sept. 3, 2003. He was born April 17, 1914, to Noah E. and Savilla (Yoder) Hershberger near Grantsville, Md.

He was a member of Mountain View Mennonite Church since his youth, and served as deacon on the ministerial team since 1964.

On May 12, 1940, he married Barbara Beachy, who preceded him in death on June 12, 2000.

The church was very important to his life. Children and youth had a special place in his heart. He knew the first and middle names of everyone in the church and prayed regularly for each person by name. Whenever his health and schedule permitted, he taught a weekly Bible class at the local nursing home.

Though he felt inadequate and did not really desire to be an editor, he accepted God's call to that responsibility. He served as editor of Herold der Wahrheit from the 1950s until Calvary Messenger began in 1970. He was the founding editor of Calvary Messenger and continued in that capacity until 1997, except for a short time when others served in that position. His grammatical precision and concern for clarity shone through his writings.

For 26 years he served as a teacher at Calvary Bible School, Calico Rock, Ark., from which he retired in 1995. He faithfully read and studied the Bible. He dug deeply and gleaned a vast knowledge of biblical truths. He was widely used to teach the truths he had learned from studying the Old Testament tabernacle.

Survivors include a daughter, Mildred Yoder and her husband, Marvin, of Meyersdale; a special friend of the family, Irene Shearer and her husband, Harold, of Sarasota, Fla.; a sister, Fannie Beachy, and a sister-in-law, Fannie Hershberger, both of Grantsville, Md.; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; a stillborn daughter, Dorcas; two brothers, Simon and Elmer, and three sisters, Sadie, Vernie and Lydia.

Funeral services were held at Mountain View Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Mountain View Church cemetery.