The "A Touching Obituary For A Victim Of COVID-19" Story

Sam and Mary Ellen, sweethearts in love!

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an obituary which appeared on the front page of the Lancaster Sunday LNP newspaper a few days ago.  A very touching obituary, or should I say story, about a former Amish boy who as an adult became a hero to many who got to know him throughout his life.  At the top of the far right column on the front page was a photograph of Sam Stoltzfus and Mary Ellen Brendle draped on either side of the hood of what appears to be a 1950 Pontiac.  

Announcement for the engagement
of Mary Ellen and Samuel.

You can just "feel" the love that eminates from their faces in the old sepia photograph.  He eventually married his sweetheart on April 7, 1951.  Sam was born in Morgantown, Pennsylvania on January 7, 1930, son of Emanuel and Fannie Stoltzfus.  He was the youngest in his family and predeceased by his five brothers.  Sam left his Amish upbringing at the end of eight grade and eventually enlisted in the Army to serve in Korea.  He was a jeep driver in the Army which led to his 30 year career as a truck driver for New Holland Machine Co. with over four million miles of driving. But, he also had a love for auctioneering which led to 34 years as a local estate auctioneer.  

Sam in his service uniform.

During his retirement he became involved with the Garden Spot Lions and Leo Clubs.  He was a member the Conestoga Church of the Brethren for most of his life, but recently joined St. John's Center UCC Church in Union Grove, Pennsylvania.  Sam was also an avid member of the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) breakfast club which gave him a chance to do one of the things he loved best...talk!  Seems everybody knew him no matter what restaurant he might walk into on any given day.  But, what he enjoyed the most in life was his family which in addition to his wife Mary Ellen, includes five children; Shirley, Robert, Stanley, Kenneth and James and their spouses; ten grandchildren (one predeceased him) and five great-grandchildren.  

Sam and Mary Ellen

Sam recently died peacefully at the age of 90 due to complications related to COVID-19 on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.  And, after reading his obituary in the morning newspaper, it is obvious that he will be missed by not only family but all those he touched in his church community as well as all that he befriended thru his ROMEO breakfast club.  If you care to celebrate Sam's life, you may do so with a contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS, 66675-8515 or www.woundedwarriorproject.org.  Sam's life was filled with the love of many friends and relatives and will be dearly missed. RIP!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Recent photograph of Samuel Stoltzfus.