87, WWII veteran, worked for

Owens Corning

J. Donald "Whitey" Hertzler, 87, of Lititz, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 12, 2013 at Hospice and Community Care, Bob Fryer & Family Inpatient Center, Mount Joy.

Born in Manheim, he was the son of the late Clarence and Mary Amand Hertzler. He was married to the late Betty L. Summers Hertzler and late Mary M. Weidler Hertzler.

He is survived by a daughter: Barbara J. (Gary S.) Hoffer, Ephrata; a son: Gary J. Hertzler, Fla.; four grandchildren: Christina (Rob) Glick, Sheryl (Mark) Rettew, Justin (Kristen) Hoffer, Shari (Kenneth) McWilliams; seven great-grandchildren: Tyler, Nicholas, Kyle, Natalie, Owen, Oliver, Israel; a brother: Benjamin (Gloria) Hertzler; and two sisters: Mary Jane (Chet) Schoenberger and Nancy (Pete) Denlinger. He was preceded in death by a sister: Dorothy Metzler.

Whitey was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific on the USS LST 556.

He worked as a heat and frost insulator for Owens Corning and Johns Manville. Whitey was an avid golfer enjoyed bowling, woodworking and going to breakfast with his friends. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion and AMVETS.

78, Ruhl’s member, avid gardener

and devoted grandmother

Marian J. Ginder, 78, of Manheim, passed peacefully to eternal life with Jesus Thursday, May 9, 2013 at Bob Fryer and Family Inpatient Center of Hospice and Community Care, Mount Joy, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Manheim, she was the daughter of the late Earl H. and Martha B. Helt Diehm. She was the wife of Ray G. Ginder with whom she would have celebrated 58 years of marriage May 21.

Marian was a member of Ruhl’s United Methodist Church in Manheim. Prior to retiring, she was employed for 27 years as a cafeteria worker at Stiegel Elementary School in the Manheim Central School District. After graduating from Manheim High School in 1952, she was employed for four years as a clerical worker by the former Raybestos company in Manheim. Marian enjoyed flower gardening, with lupines being her favorite variety of flower. She received her most pleasure from spending time with her family and attending the activities in which her grandchildren participated.

85, WWII veteran, former

Yerger Bros. employee

Curtis E. Zeller, 85, of Lititz, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at his residence.

Born in Shaefferstown, he was the son of the late Alvin K. and Naomi Keener Zeller. Curtis was married to the late Anna R. Miley Zeller who died in 2010. He is survived by his children: Jack Zeller, Jean Ann (Stephen) Brandt and Jeanette Zeller; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers: Harry Zeller and Robert Zeller; five sisters: Bernice Dodd, Ruth Ford, Betty Light, Sylvia Hoffman and Joan Mouser. He was preceded in death by a brother: Warren Zeller and a sister: Anna Mae Wolf.

Curtis was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II. Curtis worked in shipping and receiving at the former Yerger Bros., Lititz. He loved his beagle, Sam.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

86, WWII veteran, banker,

active club member

William W. "Bill" Walp, 86, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Brethren Village, where he lived since 2005.

Bill was married to Ruth L. (Lewis) Walp for 61 years. They lived in Lancaster most of their lives.

Bill was born in Wilkes-Barre to the late Carl T. and the late Anne (Williams) Walp. He graduated from Hanover Township High School, Wilkes College and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University and the Commercial Bank Management Program Graduate School of Business, Columbia University.

He was a national bank examiner for many years. He later joined Fulton Bank as a vice-president in commercial lending and after that worked in security. After retiring, he and his wife did a lot of traveling throughout the world. He served as President of the American Institute of Banking and President of the Robert Morris Associates. Bill was a member of the Conestoga Business Club, University Club and was an active member in the Masonic Lodge-Lamberton Lodge #476 F.&A.M., the Harrisburg Consistory, Lancaster Lodge of Perfection, Lancaster County Shrine Club and the Zembo Shrine. Bill and his wife were also influential in planning trips for the Lancaster Silver Threads. He enjoyed traveling and playing cards, especially bridge, pinochle and crazy crazy eights.

90, owned Brickerville diner,

Lititz Church of the Brethren member

Miriam J. Snavely, 90, formerly of Lititz, passed away May 13, 2013 at Brethren Village.

Born in Lititz, she was the daughter of the late Ira and Edith Forney Longenecker. Her first husband was the late R. Glenn Hershey and she later married the late Earl Snavely.

Miriam was a member of the Lititz Church of the Brethren and a former member of the Rose of Sharon Sunday school class. Earlier in life, she and her first husband, Glenn, owned and operated Glenn’s Diner in Brickerville.

She is survived by her children: Melvin Hershey, husband of Arlene of St. Charles, Minn.; Patricia, wife of Harold Hershey of New Holland; Roger Hershey, husband of Roxanne of State College; step-son: James Snavely of Bloomsburg; step-daughters: Joyce Groff of New Holland and Barbara Weaver of Manheim; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her brothers and sisters: Forney Longenecker, husband of the late Kitty of Lititz; Jeanette, wife of Norman Adair of Lititz; Charlotte, wife of Earl Huber of Conestoga; Marlin Longenecker, husband of Marian of Lititz; and a sister-in-law: Helen Longenecker of Mount Joy. Preceding her in death was a brother: Ira and a sister: Mae, wife of the late Richard Hosler.

91, sewing machine operator

Eva M. Shankweiler, 91, of Allentown, passed away Monday, May 6, 2013 at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Her mother was from Lititz.

She was the wife of the late William D. Shankweiler, who passed away in 1997. Born in Macungie, she was a daughter of the late Frank J. and Caroline V. (Cressman) Meitzler.

Eva worked as a sewing machine operator for the former Midway Company and several other garment factories in the Allentown area. She was a member of Jordan Lutheran Church, Orefield.

Survivors include a son: Ronald D., and his wife Belinda J. of Allentown; daughter: Louann E., wife of Dr. Richard E. Berg of Hancock, N.Y.; seven grandchildren: Lisa, Sarah, Deirdre, Devon, Christina, Laura and Jennifer; and six great-grandchildren. A daughter: Margaret H. predeceased her in 1943.

Services were held May 10 at Trexler Funeral Home, Allentown. Burial is at Cedar Hill Memorial Park, Allentown.

Contributions can be made to Alzheimers Association 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

73, dental hygenist,

dedicated grandmother

Frances E. Reinhart, 73, of Lititz, passed away unexpectedly Friday, May 10 at her home.

She was born in Lebanon County to the late Henry V. and Vernetta E. (Moyer) Kleinfelter and was the wife of the late Eric L. Reinhart, with whom she shared 26 years of marriage before his passing in 1992.

Frances was a beloved grandma and one of the strongest and most selfless individuals. She loved her granddaughters and dedicated the past 10 years to taking care of them. Frances demonstrated a great work ethic for her children and always had a positive mental attitude. The world needs more people like our mom.

Frances graduated from Warwick High School in 1956 and worked as a dental hygienist for Dr. Herr of Ephrata and Dr. Zug of Manheim before retiring in 2002.

Frances is survived by a son: Jason, husband of Betty Jo Reinhart of Lititz; daughter: Annetta Reinhart of Lititz; two granddaughters: Hannah and Lauren Reinhart; and five siblings: Ralph, husband of Janet Kleinfelter of Schaefferstown; Henry Kleinfelter of Ephrata; Virigina, wife of Frederick Dulabohn of Schaefferstown; Debra, wife of Steve Wier of Lititz; and David Kleinfelter of Kentucky.

95, elected in 1955 at age 36

George Michael Leader, 95, a self-described "seventh generation Pennsylvania Dutch farmer," who was the second youngest Governor of Pennsylvania, died at his home in Hershey Thursday, May 9, 2013.

A granddaughter, Meredith Janeczek Mills of Lititz, is among his surviving relatives.

Leader graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1939. Later that year, he married Mary Jane Strickler and began service in the U.S. Navy as a supply corps officer on the USS Randolph. Following World War II, and in line with his family’s seven generations of farmers, he bought a poultry farm in York County. Eventually, he became active in local politics and was elected to the State Senate seat previously held by his father.

After one term as a Democratic State Senator, he was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 1955 at the age of 36. In 1962, Leader and his wife founded a company that provided skilled nursing and rehabilitation for seniors. By 1981, the company was the largest provider of skilled nursing care in the state. Leader later established Country Meadows Retirement Communities and in 1980 launched Providence Place, where he was most recently serving as its chairman, president and CEO.

27, former Tait Towers employee

Wolf Sanctuary volunteer

Brett Austin Hopkins, 27, of Lititz and Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly May 6, 2013.

He was born in Lancaster and was the son of Barry S. Hopkins and Dr. Ruth Ann Hopkins. He was a 2006 graduate of Warwick High School and was employed at Tait Towers, Lititz, and was currently working for Case New Holland in New Holland, Pennsylvania.

Brett was passionate about his love for his family and friends. He was extremely loyal and dedicated, loved to make people laugh, and would drop everything to help friends or family when they needed assistance. In his youth, Brett played many years in Warwick Little League Baseball, Lititz Youth Soccer Club, and swam for the Woodridge Swim Team. He enjoyed summers with his family at their vacation home in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania. In Eagles Mere, he especially loved swimming, boating, and fishing with his brother. Brett also enjoyed camping with his friends and hiking the waterfalls at nearby Ricketts Glen State Park. Within the last year he has thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania in Lititz. He also enjoyed music, lifting weights, snowboarding, running, hiking, being outdoors and spending time with those he loved, especially his brother.

88, Moravian Manor resident, Sunday school teacher

Virginia Edith Hamaker, 88, of Lititz, passed away Sunday, May 12, at the Moravian Manor in Lititz.

Born in Crumpler, N.C., she was the daughter of the late William Judson Howell and Anna Cordelia Blevins Howell. Virginia was the wife of the late Clyde Joseph Hamaker, who passed away in August 1983.

A homemaker, Virginia was a member of Covenant United Methodist Church in Lancaster, where she was a Sunday school teacher. She also was a member of the Ladies of the Golden Eagle and enjoyed quilting and reading.

Virginia will be lovingly remembered by her daughters: Judy C., wife of Charles Swartzell of Flower Mound, Texas; Sue A., wife of Ricky Zimmerman of Leola; Mary C., wife of Herb Sload of Lindside, W.V.; and Flo E., wife of Scott Zimmerman of Stevens; her grandchildren: Vicky, Bill, Eric and Beth; her great-granddaughter: Hannah and her sister: Flo Reeves of Crumpler, N.C. She was preceded in death by her son Jay Hamaker and seven siblings.