Lydia C. Plank Obituary (1918 - 2009)

Lydia C. Plank, 91 Lydia Caroline Plank, 91, died at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Thursday, October 22, 2009. Ms. Plank was born on July 6, 1918 in Bellefontaine, Ohio, to Marion L. and Mary Ella (King) Plank. At the age of 2, the family moved from Ohio to Royersford, Pennsylvania, where she spent her childhood. Ms. Plank earned a bachelors degree from Eastern Mennonite University and a Master of Arts Degree in Library Science from Vanderbilt University (Peabody), Nashville, Tennessee. For fifteen years she served in relief work with the Mennonite Central Committee and in mission work with Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities and with the Methodist Mission Board. Her overseas service consisted primarily of teaching and organizing libraries, especially in Malaysia, where she served for nearly ten years. She also served in India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Somalia. In the States, Ms. Plank taught school and worked as a librarian in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, California and Hawaii. Because of her great love for children and literature, she held many story hours and spent many summers teaching Summer Bible School. She was a member of Park View Mennonite Church. She is survived by a sister, Cena King, of Tofield, Alberta Canada, and seventeen nieces and nephews. Three sisters preceded her in death, Dorothy Swartz (Jonas) Delphia Kurtz (Omar), and Annabelle Tyson (Aaron). A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Detwiler Auditorium of the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501, to Gift and Thrift, 731 Mt. Clinton Pike, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 or to the Good Samaritan Fund, 1501 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. Cremation arrangements are being held by McMullen Funeral Home, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mcmullenfh.com.