Mary Ellen Horst Obituary (1926 - 2013)

Mary Ellen Horst, 86 Mary Ellen Stutzman Horst, 86, a resident of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Harrisonburg, Virginia passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2013. She was born on October 23, 1926 in Mantua, Ohio to the late James and Edith Stutzman. At a young age she moved with her family to Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. In her youth, she made a Christian commitment and spent much of her adult life living out that commitment in her chosen profession of nursing. She graduated from nursing school at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville, Pennsylvania in 1951. She worked as a nurse in Springfield, Vermont for seven years and in Calico Rock, Arkansas, for 26 years. She then moved to Myerstown, Pennsylvania, and worked at Philhaven Hospital for six years. In 1995, she married Samuel L. Horst and moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia. There she was an active, well-loved member of the community, and was treasured by her new family. She will be greatly missed by the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community at Park Place in Harrisonburg. She is survived by her husband, Samuel L. Horst, and two sisters, Jeane Fretz, Souderton, Pennsylvania and Lorraine Myers, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; two brothers, Kenneth L. Stutzman, Kutztown, Pennsylvania and J. Merle Stutzman, Fleetwood Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by a sister, Mildred Louise Stutzman; and four brothers, James Jr., A. Marlowe, Donald G., and E. Dale. She is also survived by six stepchildren: Kenneth Horst, Hannah Schertz, Sylvia Horst, married to Ross L. Bender, Barbara Horst, Mary Horst, married to David Buchanan, and Carol Horst, married to Bruce Shafer; by six step grandchildren, Jessamyn Schertz, Julian Bender, Ava Buchanan, Will Buchanan, Dylan Shafer, and Maria Shafer; and by 28 nieces and nephews. Service will be held at Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia on Monday, April 15, 2013, with visitation at 10:00 am and memorial service at 11:00 am. Place of burial will be Weaver's Mennonite Church Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia.