1/21/2024
Barbara Ruth Benner, 82, of Mount Joy, went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at home, surrounded by family. Born in Morgantown, she was the daughter of the late Job and Mary (Glick) Stoltzfus. Wife of Dr. John Nolt Benner.
Barb grew up riding horses on her parents’ farm in Morgantown. She raised her children while living in Philadelphia, Allentown, and Tunkhannock. In Chambersburg, Barb enjoyed hosting guests from around the world in their “Elisha” guest house. Barb and John moved to Mount Joy to be close to their daughter and grandchildren for the last 17 years of her life.
Some of her many passions included gardening, houseplants, sewing for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), reading and feeding her family. She was a woman of prayer, a Master Gardener and a member of Elizabethtown Mennonite Church, where she served on the Kitchen Committee for many years.
She will be lovingly missed by her husband of 62 years, Dr. John N. Benner; her daughter, Laurel (Lolly) Kratz (Ron Kratz) of Mount Joy; her daughter-in-law, Brenda (Lehman) Benner (Randy Benner) of Friedens; her son, Eric Benner (Marie Benner-Rhoades) of Trumansburg, NY. Also missed by her grandchildren: Brandon Kratz (Eugenie Quan) of Roanoke, VA, Nathaniel Kratz (Brooke Witmer Kratz) of Philadelphia, Josiah Kratz (Katie Ashley Kratz) of Pittsburgh, Hannah Kratz Smith (Joey Smith) of Quarryville, Morgaine Benner and Job Benner of Trumansburg, NY. Survived by her brother, Melvin (Nancy Yoder) Stoltzfus; sisters-in-law, Martha (Kurtz) Stoltzfus, Esther (Kurtz) Stoltzfus, Marian (Glick) Stoltzfus and Sylvia Stoltzfus.
Preceded in death by her sons, Dr. John Randall (Randy) Benner and Keith David Benner; and her brothers, Wayne Stoltzfus, Merle Stoltzfus, Nathan Stoltzfus and Harold Stoltzfus.
A Celebration of Life service will be held graveside for family and friends at Groffdale Mennonite Church (168 N. Groffdale Rd., Leola) on Friday, February 2, 2024 at 10:00AM followed by a time to greet the family in the multi-purpose room. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Mennonite Central Committee (mcc.org).