Arlene H. Eshelman

Arlene H. Eshleman, 98, of Elkhart, died early Wednesday morning, October 1, 2008, at Hubbard Hill Estates. She was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, on December 7, 1909, to Amos and Sally (Johnson) Heatwole.  She married Harold G. Eshleman on June 28, 1933.  He died February 27, 1998. A homemaker, Mrs. Eshleman was a member of the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church in Virginia.  She graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Dunsmore Business College in Staunton, Virginia. Mrs. Eshelman served as church secretary and home office manager for her husband, a Mennonite minister.  She hosted countless visitors including refugees from Cuba, Laos and Palestine. She is survived by a daughter, Ruth (Devon) Sherman Schrock of Goshen; two sons, J. Robert (Rosalie) Eshleman of Midlothian, Virginia, and Kenneth (Myrna) Eshleman of Mechanisburg, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Nellie Early and Dorothy Smith, both of Harrisonburg, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; a grandson, Lee Eshleman in 2007; four sisters, Cleda Keller, Zelda Rohrer, Nina Layman and Ethel Good; and a brother, Herman Heatwole. Friends may call 5 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, October 18, following the memorial service at the church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. A memorial service will begin at 4:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 18, 2008, at the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Burial will be in Weavers Mennonite Church Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Memorials may be directed to the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church for the Laotian Ministry Fund, 1552 S. High St., Harrisonburg, VA   22801 or to the Virginia Mennonite Mission, 901 Parkwood Dr., Harrisonburg, VA   22802.