Laurence Sauder

Laurence Hollinger Sauder, 89, passed away June 18, 2026 at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. He was born on February 9, 1937 in East Earl, PA to the late Samuel Roy Sauder and Lydia Hollinger Sauder. He married Evelyn (Horst) Sauder of New Holland, PA on June 21, 1958.

Despite not having the opportunity to complete high school, he was a graduate of Eastern Mennonite College and after obtaining his bachelor’s degree, took several classes at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. He was also chaplain at the original Virginia Mennonite Home prior to serving as an interim pastor in Immokalee, Florida for two years. He then completed one year of studies at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

His early work experience was in agriculture-related jobs in Lancaster County. He also worked as a carpenter in Pennsylvania and as a construction foreman in Georgia and Virginia before starting L.H. Sauder Construction in the early 1970s.

From 1975 to 1982, he worked as the Director of Church and Community Relations at Eastern Mennonite High School before spending six years in charge of the development and construction and assisting in the marketing of most of the 81 units of Park Village, a part of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community.

When the Park Village project was completed, he formed Sauder Builders in 1989 along with his son Larry. He was known for his excellent craftmanship and attention to detail in building specialized custom residential houses as well as some light commercial buildings.

In retirement, he worked part time doing property inspections for LD&B Insurance. He has served on many boards and committees in church-related organizations and was a longtime member of Weavers Mennonite Church.

Laurence loved people and could often be found visiting and encouraging friends and family and meeting with a variety of men’s groups. In retirement he enjoyed auditing courses at Eastern Mennonite Seminary which led to new friendships and recording of two years’ worth of Little Liturgies for the Soil and Seed Project. He loved to garden and pick wild berries, and his family especially enjoyed his home-grown lima beans.

After moving to Park Village, he assisted with activities for those in assisted living and nursing care until precluded by his own health. He was always caring and put the needs of others before his own.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, Evelyn Sauder of Harrisonburg, VA, daughter Connie (Sauder) Lehman and her husband Don of Herndon, VA, son Larry Sauder and his wife Linda of Linville, VA and son Kurtis Sauder and his wife Cindy of Lyndhurst, VA as well as two sisters, Bertha Kreider of Denver, PA and Dora Horst of New Holland, PA and brothers-in-law Dan Wenger of Lititz, PA and Jay Martin of Ephrata, PA. His grandchildren are Brian Lehman and Michael Lehman, both of Charlotte, NC, Jeremy Sauder and wife Rachael of Linville, Michelle (Sauder) Pence and husband Martin of Harrisonburg, Zach Sauder and wife Juni of Harrisonburg, Rachel (Sauder) Gomez and husband Joshua of Richmond, VA and Jacob Sauder of East Earl, PA. He has three great grandchildren, Sophia, Declan, and Lily Sauder of Harrisonburg. He also valued his relationships with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister Mildred Pinto and her husband Juan, sister Edna Snader and her husband Raymond, sister Miriam Landis and her husband Eugene, brother Leroy Sauder and his wife Irene, sister Erma Wenger, and brothers-in-law Aaron Snader and Lamar Horst.

The family extends their gratitude and appreciation to the staff of First Choice Hospice and VMRC Harman House for their excellent care and support.

A memorial service will be held at Park View Mennonite Church on August 1, 2026 at 2 p.m.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 p.m. until 1:45 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to VMRC Good Samaritan Fund and Compassion Endowment, 1501 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.

Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com.

McMullen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.