served as missionaries in Cuba and Mexico for many years. They returned to live in Harrisonburg in 1970, where they became active in the church and community, particularly the Hispanic community. Betty was among the first women ordained to Christian ministry by Virginia Mennonite Conference, serving as a chaplain in prison ministry with Aaron. Betty was fluent in Spanish and enjoyed serving as a translator for persons from the Hispanic community. She is survived by her husband, Aaron, and 8 children, all EMU alumni; Michael ’76 (dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary), Jewel ’80, R. Robert ‘80, Steven Wiebe-King ’82, Martin (Marty) ’85 (EMU manager of audio/visual information systems), Noel ’87, Heidi ’89, and Starla ’90. Lois Ellen Hege ’51 Brenneman, Lancaster, Pa., died May 23, 2010, at the age of 84. For many years, Lois was a tour guide for visitors to the Amish area of Lancaster County. She and her husband, John Brenneman ’50 (who survives), frequently entertained guests in their home. Lois was an active member of the Life Mennonite Fellowship Church, West Willow, Pa. Stanley (Stan) K. Souder ’54, Sem ’55, of Telford, Pa., died June 6, 2010, at Grandview Hospital, after a massive stroke at the age of 80. Stan taught 21 years at Franconia Elementary School. He had keen interest in local history, world missionary endeavors, art and music. He was a lifetime member of Rockhill Mennonite Church, serving as a former Sunday school teacher. More recently, he attended Souderton Mennonite Church. Mary E. Swartzentruber ’60 Gingerich, Plain City, Ohio, died July 28, 2010, at the age 84, at Mt. Carmel West Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Mary grew up on a farm near Berlin, Ohio. She accepted Christ at a young age and had a heart for missions, teaching Bible school at numerous places. As a single girl, she went to Germany to help a missionary family. Mary taught school in New York and Burton, Ohio. After her marriage to Lloyd Gingerich ’61, they spent 11 years in Germany under Rosedale Mennonite Missions. After their return to the States, she played a valuable role as a supportive pastor’s wife in Lloyd’s pastorates in Johnsville, Ohio, Milford, Neb., Arthur, Ill., and West Liberty, Ohio, and enjoyed ministering to and relating with many people. She is survived by her husband, Lloyd. Sanford (Sandy) Snider ’62, Broadway, Va., died at his home, surrounded by his family on June 13, 2010, at age 69, after a four-year battle with acute leukemia. He received graduate education at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., earning a master’s degree there in 1968 and a doctorate of education in 1977. Sandy began his career in public education by teaching in Hampton City Schools from 1962-65. He was
employed as a teacher and guidance counselor at Denbigh High School in Newport News, Va., 1965-70. He then moved to Richmond where he worked in the Henrico County Public Schools as a guidance supervisor, research associate and director of research and planning until his retirement in 1998. He continued working part-time in the research department until he moved to Broadway in 2005. Throughout his life journey, Sandy was an enthusiastic volunteer, particularly in church-related ventures, but, also in community service. He served as secretary of EMU’s Alumni Association from 1998 to 2010, when he resigned due to declining health. Upon his move to Broadway, he and his wife, Gloria Harman ’63 Snider, became a members of Trissels Mennonite Church. Gloria survives, as do his three sons and their spouses, Craig ’88 (MDiv ’92) and Jill Landis ’86 Snider (MDiv ’92), Daryl ’91 and Jean Sensenig ’92 Snider, Shawn ’00 and Sarah Beachy ’00 Snider. Truman H. Brunk ’64, MDiv ‘69, Harrisonburg, Va., went to his eternal reward, Oct. 8, 2010, at the age of 79. Prior to his ordination for pastoral ministry in 1965, Truman enjoyed working in his family’s orchards and building homes in Williamsburg, Va. From 1965-74, he served as campus pastor at EMU. In this role, Truman provided the primary leadership for the remarkable fund drive in December, 1969, in which the entire campus rallied to raise $113,000 over four days to enable EMU to collect a government grant and construct the Sadie A. Hartzler Library. He served as a pastor at Akron Mennonite Church in Akron, Pa., Blooming Glen Mennonite Church in Blooming Glen, Pa., Warwick River Mennonite Church in Newport News, Va., and as associate pastor at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va. Truman also served as a bishop/overseer in churches in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Shenk ‘69, worked side by side as interim pastors at Neffsville Mennonite Church in Lancaster, Pa., and at Landisville Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania. He is survived by Betty, his wife of 58 years. John Daniel “JD” Stahl ’73, Blacksburg, Va., died July 15, 2010, at the age of 58. JD spent most of his growing-up years in Luxembourg and Germany, the child of Mennonite missionary parents. This childhood identity gave him a perspective which bridged both European and American cultures. For the past 10 years, JD had lived with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, weathering many difficulties with grace, courage, resilience, and a sense of the preciousness of each moment. He enjoyed singing in his deep bass voice, listening to music, and being deeply involved with the lives of his two sons. JD earned a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a PhD from the University of Connecticut. For
one year, he studied at the Universities of Marburg and Munich in Germany. In 1982, JD arrived at Virginia Tech as a professor of English. He also served as visiting professor in the Hollins University summer Children’s Literature MA Program since its founding in 1992. He won numerous teaching awards, including the 2008 Virginia Tech William E. Wine Award for excellence in teaching. He co-edited Crosscurrents of Children’s Literature: Texts and Criticism and authored Mark Twain, Culture and Gender: Envisioning America through Europe. He was successively a member of Blacksburg Quaker Meeting, serving as its clerk (lay leader) for several years, and a member of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. Marie Hershey Leaman Shenk ’86, MA ’98 (religion), died September 7, 2010, due to complications from pancreatic cancer, at the age of 72, in her home at Park Gables, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Harrisonburg, Va. For several years, Marie served as secretary to Paul N. Kraybill, executive secretary of Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM). After her marriage to Calvin E. Shenk ’59, they moved to Lancaster, Pa., where both were employed by Lancaster Mennonite School. In 1961, when they were in their early 20s, Marie and Calvin became missionaries in Ethiopia under EMM. There they remained for the next 15 years. Marie taught bookkeeping and typing and was the bookkeeper at the Nazareth Bible Academy. All three of their children were born in Ethiopia. In 1976, the Shenks moved to Harrisonburg, where Marie began employment as an administrative assistant to the academic dean of EMU. From 1997-2002, at the request of the Mennonite Middle East Reference Group, the Shenks served in a joint Middle East assignment funded by EMM, Mennonite Central Committee, and Mennonite Mission Network. While living in Jerusalem for part of each year, Calvin and Marie focused on JewishChristian dialogue, and Marie wrote a short history of Mennonite work in Israel. Marie and Calvin led four cross-cultural tours to the Middle East. In addition to her husband, Calvin, Marie is survived by three children, all EMU alumni: two sons, Douglas Shenk ’89 of Hummelstown, Pa., Duane Shenk ’90 of Harrisonburg; and Donna Shenk ’91 Sensenig of Goshen, Ind. Dennis Oricho, MA ’09 (conflict transformation), Nairobi, Kenya, died of kidney failure in a hospital in his home country on December 7, 2010. Dennis came to the Center for Justice and Peacebulding in the fall of 2008 as a Fulbright grantee. The previous year he had studied conflict analysis and resolution at Sabanci University in Istanbul,Turkey. He also held an Advanced Certificate in Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies from European University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies in Austria.
He was a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary where he earned a bachelor’s in sacred theology. He also held a diploma in philosophy and religious studies from Pontifical Urbaniana University. A memorial service attended by his sister, Caroline Oricho, as well as by faculty, staff and students who remembered Dennis, was held in EMU’s Martin Chapel on December 15, 2010. Jason Jay Marner ’10, Brighton, Iowa, died July 1, 2010, at the age of 22, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Jason began full-time work with Dynamic Aviation on June 28, where he had served as an intern for two years. Jason had a life-long dream to pilot airplanes. He began pursuing this dream as an aviation major at two-year Hesston College, before transferring to EMU, where he majored in business administration. He hoped to engage in missionary aviation at some future time. Jason participated in EMU’s six-week cross-cultural program in New Zealand just before graduating in May 2010. Val Metzler, who had been on the trip with Jason, wrote the following on an EMU webpage containing reflections on Jason (http://emu.edu/blog/reflections/ jason-marner): “Throughout the trip I was constantly thankful for Jason’s honestly articulated feelings and thoughts, his ability to be respectful and helpful, and his zest for life.” He was a member of Bethel Mennonite Church, Wayland, Iowa. Jason is survived by his parents, Stan and Joann (Roth) Marner and his brothers, David and Christopher. Correction A year ago, we ran an archival photo of women volleyball players from the early 1990s on the cover of Crossroads. We also published a note asking for help in identifying these women. In the following issue, we identified the women as Becky Miller Lyda '92 on the left and Gwen Sensenig on the fight, based on information we received. We have since been informed that the woman identified as Gwen is actually Jen Smith Caraccio '94.
Degree Key CLASS OF - attended as part of the class of a given graduation year, but did not complete studies here HS - high school degree from era when high school and college were one MA - master of arts MDiv - master of divinity PhD - doctoral degree SEM - certificate or other studies at the seminary level
Mileposts is compiled by retired physician Paul T. Yoder ’50, MAL ’92, who may be reached at paul.t.yoder@ emu.edu or at (540) 432-4205. Feel free to send news directly to Paul or to the alumni office at alumni@emu.edu.
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