Shetler, Sanford Grant (1912-1989)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1989 Apr 6 p. 5

Birth date: 1912 Jun 13

text of obituary:

Longtime Allegheny Conference Leader, Educator Dies at Age 76

HOLSOPPLE, PA. — Sanford G. Shetler, longtime bishop and overseer in the Allegheny Conference (MC), died at a Johnstown hospital March 16 following a heart attack. He was 76.

Shetler was ordained to the ministry in the Allegheny Conference in 1932 and as bishop in 1952. He served as assistant pastor and pastor of Stahl Mennonite Church, Johnstown, and also briefly was pastor of the Walsal [sic Walsall], Carpenter Park and Pleasant Grove congregations. He was overseer of First Mennonite Church, Johnstown, and Seanor Mennonite Church at the time of his death.

He was the first editor of the Allegheny Conference News and served as field worker for the conference, as chairman of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Sunday School Conference and as secretary and assistant secretary for the conference.

HE ALSO SERVED as assistant secretary of the Mennonite Church General Assembly and was a member of the Mennonite Board of Education, the General Education Council and the Secondary Council Board. He served as member and acting editor of the Mennonite Publishing House tract committee. During World War II he was director of Civilian Public Service camps 20 and 40.

He attended Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va. He received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a master of education degree from Cornell university and an honorary doctor of letters degree from Manahath School of Theology.

In 1944 he founded Johnstown Mennonite School, now Johnstown Christian School. He served as principal until his retirement in 1968.

IN 1966 Shetler founded the bimonthly publication, Guidelines for Today, of which he was editor at the time of his death.

He traveled extensively in evangelistic and Bible conference work in the United States and Canada.

He was the author of numerous articles and six books, including Two Centuries of Struggles and Growth (1763-1963): A History of the Allegheny Mennonite Conference.

Shetler is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Yoder), two sons, three daughters, 12 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a sister.

Funeral services were held March 20 at Johnstown Christian School.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1989 May 11 p. 11

text of obituary:

SANFORD G. SHETLER

Sanford Grant Shetler, 76, of Holsopple, Pa., died March 16, 1989, at a Johnstown hospital following a heart attack. He was born June 13, 1912, in Somerset County, Pa., to Samuel Grant and Jane (Kaufman) Shetler.

He attended Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, Va., and earned a B.A. degree from University of Pittsburgh, a M.Ed., from Cornell University and an honorary Litt.D., from Manahath School of theology.

He was ordained as a minister in the Allegheny Conference (MC) in 1932 and as bishop in 1952. He was retired from the pastorate at Stahl Mennonite Church, Johnstown. He also served as pastor or assistant pastor of several other Johnstown area Mennonite churches over a 38-year period. He held various offices in the Allegheny Conference and in the former Mennonite General Conference (now General Assembly).

He was a teacher in both public and church schools. In 1944 he founded Johnstown Mennonite School, now Johnstown Christian School, and was principal until his retirement in 1968. He was visiting instructor in psychology at Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, Va., for four years and was director the Civilian Public Service camp at Sideling Hill, Pa., in 1942.

He was the author of numerous articles and six books, including "Two Centuries of Struggle and Growth, 1763-1963: A History of the Allegheny Mennonite Conference" and "Preacher of the People," a biography of his father. He was the founder and editor of "Guidelines for Today." He was an evangelist and Bible teacher throughout the Mennonite Church for 56 years.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy M. (Yoder); five children, Stanwyn G. and wife Elaine of Sterling, Va., Leonard K. and wife Ruth of Stowe, Vt., Maretta A. Hostetler of Watebury Center, Vt., Anita H.(Mrs. Wayne A.) Schoenthal of Clay, N. Y., and Carol J. (Mrs. John) Lazer of Winchester, Va.; 12 grandchildren; three great-grand-children and a sister, Margaret Kaufman of Holsopple, Pa.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 46 years, Florence H. (Young), infant twin brother and sister, Ralph and Rena, and sisters Luella Miller, Rosella Bachman and Goldie Sala.

Funeral services were held March 20, 1989, at Johnstown Christian School, with Phillip A. King, pastor of First Mennonite Church, Johnstown, officiating. Interment was in the Stahl Mennonite Church cemetery.