Eldon Roy Stoltzfus

Eldon Roy Stoltzfus departed this life on Sunday, January 24, 2021, surrounded by family at home after a year of difficult health struggles.

Eldon was born on August 25, 1948, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, the first-born of Roy Mast Stoltzfus and Lois Ehst Stoltzfus.  He grew up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and after attending grade school and high school in Snow Hill, graduated from Lancaster Mennonite School in 1966. It was there he met his life partner Rachel Elaine Lehman Stoltzfus. They were married in 1971; in August it would be fifty years.

Eldon integrated learning and service. He studied at Eastern Mennonite University and graduated from Salisbury State University in 1974.  But he interrupted his college years to serve in the Congo in the PAX program as his Alternative Service to the Vietnam war. This experience influenced his future by gifting him with a love of cultures and French language fluency. So, when presented with the opportunity to serve once more, Eldon and Rachel took their tiny firstborn to Haiti in 1974 where in the next two years Eldon traveled around Haiti as leader of International Child Care’s Crusade Against Tuberculosis immunization program. An invitation to lead what became the Integrated Rural Development under the auspices of an association of churches in South Haiti followed. In 1977-1980 Eldon developed a team of health, agriculture specialists and their Haitian counterparts so they would be equipped to continue without him.

Eldon began studying Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1980 to give continuing service a biblical foundation and graduated in 1982 with a Master of Arts in Peace Studies. Ready to re-engage once more, Eldon and Rachel with their family returned to Haiti in 1982 to partner as Country Representatives for MCC’s program there for the next five years. His years in Haiti and study at AMBS provided guidance for the rest of his life as the family moved to Sarasota in 1987.

From 1988 to 2001 Eldon worked in various capacities with Mennonite Mutual Aid (Everence), and similar agencies to provide congregations in regions across the US with mutual aid resources.

In 2002 Eldon’s vocational path shifted as he began a year’s residency with Lutheran Hospital’s Clinical Pastoral Education, followed by two years as interim pastor at Bonneyville Mennonite Church and six years at Forks Mennonite Church. He volunteered as chaplain at Goshen Hospital and eventually worked as chaplain with Goshen Hospice for 10 years. Eldon believed deeply that walking with those on the end of life journey was holy work and he was known as the singing chaplain. Eldon retired in 2018 but Anabaptist Disabilities Network’s need for an Executive Director felt like a calling and that last year of work brought him both joy and satisfaction.

Eldon is survived by his wife, Rachel Lehman Stoltzfus; son Daniel and Angela (Link) Stoltzfus, granddaughters Samantha and Josephine; son Philippe and Rosa (Oseguera) Stoltzfus, grandsons Ethan, Angel, and Javier; and daughter Belinda Bradford, grandchildren Khalid, Kassandra, Keshawn, Diamma, Dreamma, Amasia, Mirakal; siblings, Lowell (Sharon) Stoltzfus; Carol Vickory; Jay (Nancy) Stoltzfus; Mary Beth (Jerry) Bozman; and brother-in-law Conrad (Jill) Lehman.  His father-in-law Martin Lehman also survives. Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law Rhoda Lehman; brother Mervin; and grandson JaQuan.

Eldon was happiest when he knew he was making a difference in the lives of others.  Faith in God’s love and grace was rooted deep within him. He expressed respect and appreciation for all of the various cultures he came in contact with. Each relationship and friendship was important to him, years old and more recent, he remembered and cherished them all.