4/15/2016
C. Russel Bomberger, 82, formerly of Leola, husband of Judyth McDonnell Bomberger, passed away Friday, April 15, 2016 at Fairmount Homes in Ephrata. He was born in Ephrata on August 3, 1933, a son of the late Allen H. and the Nora (Rettew) Bomberger. At 2 years old, his family moved to his grandfather’s farm in Lititz, where he lived and farmed until he was 19. Bomberger attended Webster, a 1 room school for 6 years, John Beck for 2 years and was a 1951 graduate of Rothsville High School. After graduating, he traveled the Western United States, working on ranches and fighting forest fires. Bomberger served in the United States Army, 167th infantry.
He worked in the landscape/nursery business for 5 years, then entered into business with his brother, Harold for 30 years. Their partnership continued for 58 years. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Leola, where he served on Council, Property Committee and as an Assistant Minister, Lector, Usher and Communion Assistant. Besides landscaping, Russel enjoyed hunting, fishing, fly tying, and painting on canvas, rocks, leaves and feathers, woodcarving, leather and rope braiding, horseback riding and raising dogs, his favorite being border collies.
Surviving besides his wife are his sons, Jeffrey of Lancaster; David of Talmage; Matthew of Lancaster and a daughter, Krysta Barnhart, wife of Paul Barnhart of Denver; grandchildren Heather LaPoint, Nicole Heinaman, Tara Ulrich and Nathan Barnhart; great-grandchildren Kaylynn, Brayden, Gabrielle and Tyler. He was predeceased by his sister, Gladys Bomberger Kroeck in 1963 and his brother, Harold E. in 2014.
Funeral services will be held from the Zion Lutheran Church 18 Quarry Rd. Leola, on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11 am. Interment will follow in Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Brickerville. Friends may call from 10 to 11 am at the church on Saturday. Kindly omit flowers. Contributions may be made to the Helping Hands Fund of Zion Lutheran Church.