Miller, Elsie Lambright (1915-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Dec 17 p. 13

Birth date: 1915 Nov 19

text of obituary:

ELSIE MILLER

Elsie (Lambright) Miller, 91, of Goshen, Ind., and formerly of Middlebury, died Nov. 14, 2007, at Greencroft Nursing Center. She was born on Nov. 19, 1915, to Jacob J. and Fanny T. (Yoder) Lambright.

She married Eli D. Miller on Dec. 15, 1940, at Townline Mennonite Church.

In her youth, she was baptized at Townline Mennonite Church, where she remained a faithful member for more than 75 years. Her commitment to the work of the church began early in life when she helped her father do the weekly church cleaning. Before marriage, she and her mother hosted many meals for the youth and adults in the church, a practice she continued throughout her married life and until age 90, when she was incapacitated by a stroke. Hospitality was her spiritual gift. In addition to her church community, she entertained many international guests, Goshen College students, relatives and strangers.

Her husband, Eli, was ordained to the ministry in 1948 and later as bishop in 1956. She faithfully served with him in visiting the sick, comforting the bereaved and offering her care in various ways. She took on extra home responsibilities so Eli could attend conference meetings, teach at Rosedale Bible Institute for three winters and serve on various church and community committees. Together they served as house parents for voluntary service units in Hamburg, Germany, and at Beaver Lake Camp in Ontario.

Survivors include a son, David Miller and his wife, Susan, of Middlebury; four daughters, Ruth of Middlebury; Verna of Palmyra, Pa.; Miriam Bontrager and her husband, Walt, of Middlebury, and Lois Miller and her husband, Michael, of Partridge, Kan.; a sister, Clara Miller of Topeka; a brother, Melvin Lambright of Middlebury; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eli, on Dec. 8, 1990; a daughter-in-law, Lillian Miller, on Feb. 23, 2003; six brothers, Jerry, Toby, Ammon, Edward, Milt and Freeman Lambright; and a sister, Wilma Miller.

Funeral services were held at Townline Mennonite Church.