Mary Ethel Heatwole

Mary Ethel Lahman Heatwole, 89, of Harrisonburg, VA, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2026, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC). She was born on November 18, 1936, in Harrisonburg to the late Byard E. and Ethel F. Lahman. Byard E. Lahman was killed in a farm accident two months before Mary Ethel’s birth.
Mary Ethel graduated from Eastern Mennonite School in 1955. In 1956, she married Milton Weaver Heatwole, who survives. She joined Milton in Beltsville, MD, for his final year of 1-W service. They later returned to Harrisonburg, where Mary Ethel spent the rest of her life as a devoted homemaker, mother, and committed church member.
At home, Mary Ethel was a fastidious cook, seamstress, and housekeeper, as well as a family historian. She regularly opened her arms to family members and traveling missionaries. For nearly six years, Mary Ethel provided in-home care for her aging mother until full-time nursing care was required. She also welcomed two teenage girls into her heart when they stayed in her home while attending Eastern Mennonite High School: Elizabeth “Liz” Lee Martin (Curtis) and Phoune Liambounheuang-Mize (Eric).
Mary Ethel had deep roots in the Mennonite Church. As a child, she attended Weaver’s Mennonite Church where she came to know Milton. For nearly 20 years, she, Milton, and their children attended Elkton Mennonite Church and invested in the lives of many special people. For the last 45 years, Mary Ethel and Milton made Harrisonburg Mennonite Church their church home where they enjoyed rich fellowship with the members of the Open Circle Sunday School class. During their retirement years, Mary Ethel and Milton traveled to many countries, sometimes offering encouragement and prayer support for missionaries serving there.
Mary Ethel’s devotion to God through Jesus was evident in her daily rhythm of prayer and Bible reading each morning as well as in her tangible acts of service to the broader church. She was a faithful intercessor who participated in many prayer groups. She also served as church librarian at Elkton Mennonite Church and later became vice president of the local chapter of Women’s Aglow, an interdenominational Christian organization.
Besides her beloved husband of 70 years, Mary Ethel is survived by her children, Dolores Miller (Ken) of Goshen, IN; Steven Heatwole (Nancy Miller) of Harrisonburg, VA; and Janet Hostetter (Eric) of Harrisonburg, VA; eight grandchildren, Kristen Massey (Sam), Joel Miller (Amanda), Katrina Harberts (Dan), Sherri Wooten (Caleb), Scott Heatwole, Brook Hostetter Gonzalez (Joel), Benjamin Hostetter, and Jaden Hostetter; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mary Ethel was preceded in death by a stillborn son, Randall Curtis; her three siblings and their spouses: Harold Lahman (Evelyn), Mildred Martin (Merle), and Doris Yoder (Orris); and a brother-in-law, Mark Heatwole.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 6 in Detwiler Auditorium at VMRC. Lunch will be served following the service with a time of informal sharing immediately afterward.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir Trip Fund. Checks may be made payable to SVCC, with “Trip Fund” noted in the memo line, and mailed to: Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 . For those who prefer to make a contribution by credit card, please call 540-432-4650.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com.
McMullen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.