Bessie R. Mishler, 91, of Lititz, went to be with the Lord Monday, April 30, 2012 at the Pleasant View Retirement Community, Manheim.

Born in Durlach, she was the daughter of the late Isaac and Mabel Reider Steinmetz. She was married to the late John F. Mishler who died in 1999.

Bessie worked as a seamstress at various garment factories. She was a member of the Brunnerville United Methodist Church, where she was a Bible school teacher, church treasurer, Sunday School secretary and choir member. Bessie was also a member of the Leisure Hours Club, Brickerville, and she enjoyed embroidery and was an avid hand quilter.

Surviving are three daughters: F. Lorraine Boyer, of Lititz; Anna Mary Patterson, of Lititz; Delores Mertz, of Elizabethtown; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Bessie was preceded in death by a daughter: Joyce Clemens; a grandson: Tim Boyer; three brothers; and two sisters.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Pleasant View for the loving care given to their mother.

Bessie’s life celebration service was held at Brunnerville United Methodist Church, Lititz, on May 4 with Rev. Steven W. Rodgers officiating. Interment took place in Brunnerville United Methodist Cemetery.

Sylvia G. Minnich, 93, of Conestoga View, formerly of Lititz, passed away at Hospice of Lancaster County, Essa Flory Center, Monday, April 30, 2012.

Born in Lititz, she was the daughter of the late Warren E. and Florence E. George.

Sylvia was a graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School and attended Reading School of Nursing. Sylvia was an LPN working for Dr. Landis, Lancaster General Hospital and Duke Convalescent Home, and in her retirement she performed private nursing duties. Sylvia loved spending time with her grandchildren and was an avid reader.

She is survived by three sons: Douglas L., husband of Cynthia Minnich, of Lititz; David P. Minnich, of Lancaster; James B., husband of Doris Minnich, of Ephrata; two daughters: Sue M., wife of James Weaver, of Lititz; Lynn J. Hershey, of Lancaster; 18 grandchildren: Gary Minnich, Cory Minnich, Wendy Weber, Zach Minnich, Sheri K.M. Witmer, Eric Minnich, Jeffrey S. Minnich, Annette Minnich, Shawn Minnich, Gregory L. Minnich, Troy Minnich, Kim Minnich, Jan Minnich, Nikki D. Zimmerman, Tim J. Weaver, Mike Weaver, Michelle Weaver and Matt Hershey; many great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a twin brother: Paul; and a sister: Grace.

Margaret G. "Peg" Miller, 87, of the United Zion Retirement Community, formerly of Lititz, entered into her eternal rest Saturday, May 5, 2012.

She was the loving wife of the late Kenneth W. Miller and daughter of the late Edwin and Sarah Weaver Gehman. Born in Churchtown,

Peg was a homemaker. She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and enjoyed crossword puzzles, music and sewing.

Surviving is a son: Kevin M., husband of Judith A. Miller, of Lancaster; and three grandsons: Brett, Keith and Troy. She was the oldest of nine children and brothers: James, Glenn and Ronald Gehman survive in addition to her sisters: Lois Brooks, Pauline Garner, Geraldine Baker and Shirley Grube.

Her brother: Clyde Gehman, preceded her in death.

Peg’s life celebration funeral service was held at Salem Lutheran Church, Lititz, on May 9. Interment took place in the Kissel Hill Lutheran Cemetery.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made in Peg’s memory to Salem Lutheran Church, Church, 26 Owl Hill Road, Lititz, PA 17543. To share fondest memories of Peg, visit lifecelebration.com.

The Rev. H. James Meyers died in peace Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at Luther Acres Manor in Lititz.

He was born in Mt. Joy on Oct. 31, 1919 to Arthur and May (Schickley) Meyers and was the second of seven children (three brothers and three sisters).

Pastor Jim was a 1943 graduate of Findlay College, and in 1956 he received the master of divinity degree from Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary. His long and fruitful ministry included pastorates at the Church of God in Valley View, the First Church of God, Middletown, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbia and Trinity Lutheran Church in Somerset. Pastor Jim developed a strong sense of social justice during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and preached a gospel of love and justice for all people. He retired from the pulpit in 1992 but continued his ministry as a supply pastor to churches in the Somerset region until he preached his last sermon in 2008.

John D. Messner, 86, of Neffsville, died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Moravian Manor in Lititz.

He was the husband of Ella B. Brooks Messner, with whom he celebrated 64 years of marriage this past Jan. 3. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late John and Laura Brubaker Messner.

John had worked for the RCA Corporation for 37 years until his retirement in 1986. He loved the Philadelphia Phillies and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed going to the shore. John was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II serving as an aerial gunner.

In addition to his wife, Ella, he is survived by his daughters, both of Lititz: Linda, wife of Douglas Newcomer, and Cynthia, wife of James Anderson, both of Lititz; his five grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and his two sisters: Betty Eager, of Lititz; and Rebecca Geizentanner, of Anaheim, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his son: John D. Messner Jr.; his grandson: Christopher Mitchell; and his sister: Jean Bixler.

The funeral service will be held on May 10 at 2 p.m. at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home and Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz. Interment in Riverview Burial Park.

Alverta S. Hostetter, 90, of Lititz, passed away at Lancaster General Hospital Wednesday, May 2, 2012.

Born in Lititz, she was the daughter of the late Harvey Eberly and Sallie Strauss Snavely, and the wife of the late Lester A. Hostetter.

Alverta was a member of the Brunnerville United Methodist Church. She had an interest in caring for little children and helped in the church nursery. She especially enjoyed playing games with her great grandchildren, was a terrific gardener, an avid reader, played pinochle and did knitting and sewing. While in Silver Spring, Fla., for the winter she worked in the Thrift Shop at Ocklawaha United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Friends and Neighbors Fan Trailer Club as she also had an interest in traveling.

Survivors include her daughters: Claudia M. Hostetter, wife of Daniel K. Bare, of Lancaster; Pamela H. Hjelm, of Lititz; grandchildren: Sean and Eric Hjelm, Sandra Aloguin and Angela Irato; 15 great- grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a sister: Miriam, wife of Jefferson Zoller, of Brunnerville.

She was preceded in death by a daughter: Sandra Sue; and a brother: Harry.

Paul Hess Jr., formerly of Manheim and Brethren Village, passed away Sunday, April 29, 2012 at Lancaster Regional Medical Center.

Born in Elizabethtown, he was the son of the late Paul M. and Parthene Haunstein Hess. He was the loving husband of Betty Brenneman Hess and they would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in June of this year.

Retired in 1984, Paul drove truck for the former Mushroom Transportation, Mount Joy. He was a 1945 graduate of Elizabethtown High School and proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. Paul was a member of Salem United Methodist Church, Manheim, and a life member of the Manheim Sportsman’s Association. He was also past president of Big Chiques Bowman, Elizabethtown. Paul was an avid hunter and enjoyed spending time with his family.

Surviving in addition to his wife are three sons: Richard P., husband of Deborah Hess, of Bainbridge; William D., husband of Ann Marie Hess, of Lititz; and Scott B., husband of Annette Hess, of Mount Joy; a daughter: Lisa K., wife of Scott Andrews, of McVeytown; eight grandchildren; one brother: Gerald H. Hess, of Williamsburg; and two sisters: Marian Grubb, of Palmyra; and Betty, wife of Marlin Ruhl, of Manheim.

Robert W. Herr, 83, formerly of Ephrata, died Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at Moravian Manor.

He was the husband of Janet E. Grossglass Herr for 64 years. Born in Harrisburg, he was the son of the late Benjamin Franklin and Ruby Alyce Carr Herr.

A 1947 graduate of Manheim Township High School, Bob worked as an engineer for Bell Telephone in Lancaster and Harrisburg and finished his career with AT&T in Morristown, N.J.

Bob was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Lititz, where he served on the church council. He was treasurer of Luther Acres resident council, and he loved golf, music, the St. Louis Cardinals and spending time with his family. Bob coached little league baseball and served as Cub Scout cubmaster when his sons were involved.

In addition to his wife Janet, Bob is survived by four children: Eric B., husband of Rebecca M. Herr, of Bristol, N.H.; Nancy S., wife of John W. Casey, of Ephrata; Nathan S., husband of Stephanie Herr, of Glen Ridge, N.J.; and Brian R., husband of Danielle Herr, of Carlisle, Mass.; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Alice S. Haldeman, 89, of Manheim, died peacefully Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at the Pleasant View Retirement Community, Manheim.

Born and raised in a farming family from Manor Township, she was the daughter of the late J. Stoner and Minnie Frey Seitz. She was the loving wife of Ross K. Haldeman, who died in May of 2003.

Alice worked as a registered nurse for Lancaster General Hospital, Manheim Central School District and Moravian Manor. She completed her post graduate education with a master’s degree in guidance and was a counselor for the Manheim Central School District. Alice served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War II in Europe. She was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Manheim, for 65 years. Alice volunteered many years of service at Moravian Manor and at the Nearly Nu Shop in Manheim. Alice enjoyed sewing and quilting, donating many of her pieces to charity. She was a self taught artist working with water color medium and was known for her detailed outdoor scenes.

Gladys V. (Wolf) Grube, 84, of Lititz, formerly of Ephrata, passed away Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at Moravian Manor, Lititz.

She was born in Ephrata to the late Leroy and B. Arvilla (Shiffer) Wolf and was the wife of the late Robert L. Grube, who passed away in 1998.

Gladys was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Ephrata. She enjoyed sports, especially the Philadelphia Flyers, golf, word puzzles and spending time with her grandchildren. During her working years, Gladys was a secretary for Worley & Obetz Oil Company of Manheim, for over 30 years. She was a graduate of The Ephrata High School Class of 1945 and the Lancaster Business School.

Gladys is survived by two sons: Gary L., husband of Debra (Hirneisen) Grube, of Ephrata; Jeffrey L., husband of Alyssa (Deibler) Grube, of Akron; a daughter: Linda J., wife of Thomas A. Bender, of Akron; six grandchildren: David and Scott Bender, Janelle and Ryan Grube and Hannah and Owen Grube; one great-grandchild: Rilee Bender; and a sister: Helen Bowman, of Ephrata.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother: Robert L. Wolf; and sisters: Betty Callihan and her twin sister: Clara Rudy.