Benjamin Stauffer Kraybill

With gratitude to Ben for helping write this remembrance. Benjamin S. Kraybill, 99 years, of Londonderry Village, Palmyra, PA, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, March 27, 2023. He was formerly from Mount Joy and Maytown. Born near Rheems, PA, he was the son of the late Benjamin Lehman and Bertha Stauffer Kraybill. He was the husband of Miriam S. Hiestand, the love of his life. He and Miriam would have celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary, December 22, 2023. He is survived by his wife and three children, Dr. Donald Eugene (Elizabeth Loux) of Harleysville, PA, Joy Kraybill Hickethier (Wayne Hickethier), Hershey, PA, and Kenneth Hiestand (Beth Miller), Seattle, WA. He had seven grandchildren, Matthew (Ingrid), Micah (Marion), Ashley (Ben), David (Sarah), Darin, Sarah (Andrew), Jacob, and seven great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by sister Rachel K. Brubaker, brother Arthur, infant brother Daniel, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth. Ben attended public schools in Mount Joy, completing his last three years of high school at Eastern Mennonite School, Harrisonburg, VA, and graduated in June, 1942. He worked for Miriam’s brother, Paul, on his poultry farm. Then a feed and farm supply business, Hiestand, Inc., was started in 1950 and he and Miriam joined her brothers, Paul and Christian J. Hiestand. After about 18 years, Ben went to work at the Armstrong Marietta Carpet plant for 15 years. He then worked at Longenecker & Weaver Hatchery for 12 years. He was a driver at Manheim Auto Auction about six years. He also worked for Weaver Memorials for 30+ years. Ben was friendly and outgoing. He loved life, especially his family, and the good years of the family growing up with farm and country living. There was hard work, but times for games and fun too. There were frequent trips to IN to visit Miriam’s sister, Martha, and her family; family trips with a tent camper; trips to Ocean City, NJ; to Florida by auto-train; and to Vermont to see the Von Trapp Family Singers (featured in The Sound of Music). We also flew to visit our sons and families in Fresno, CA and Seattle, WA. A highlight was a Bob Neff Tour to Switzerland with friends Paul and Edith Rohrer to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversaries in 1995. Ben grew up in the Mount Joy Mennonite Church where he taught Vacation Bible School. In his early adult years, after being married, he was quite active in the Marietta Mennonite Mission as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent, occasional bus driver, singing in male quartets, and serving on the church council. He was a lifelong member of Community Bible Church (CBC), Marietta. He and his wife attended the Evangelical Free Church of Hershey and GracePoint in Londonderry Township after their move to Londonderry Village. He was a member of the Lancaster Youth for Christ Board and part of Gideon’s International. Ben’s parting message: “We hope to see you all in heaven.” Service of Remembrance at Londonderry Village chapel, Palmyra, PA on Sunday, April 2nd (viewing at 1:30pm, service at 2:30pm) led by Jeff Burkholder and Bob Sproul. Private burial on April 3rd at Kraybill’s Mennonite cemetery. To watch the service live stream https://www.youtube.com/live/q24cKj1WP-0?feature=share

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Benjamin Stauffer Kraybill

September 1, 1923 - March 27, 2023