H Ralph Hernley

H. Ralph Hernley, a resident of Greencroft since 1996, died peacefully Saturday, March 15, 2008, of a respiratory infection. He was born October 24, 1916 in Scottdale, PA, which was where he resided for most of 80 years.  His parents, Henry Risser Hernley and Daisy Cutrell Hernley’s association with the Mennonite Publishing House totaled over 40 years.  Ralph began as an apprentice in printing at the age of 13.  He attended Goshen College, graduating in 1941.  It was there he met his future wife, Elizabeth Sieber.  The day before Pearl Harbor, he and his wife began volunteer service as staff members of one of the early CPS camps where they spent over five years.  When they returned to Scottdale in 1946, Ralph resumed his career at the Mennonite Publishing House.  At this time they were a family of four with two young children.  The greatest opportunity for growth as a family was learning from the physical challenges of their first child who was born with arthrogriposis.  By 1953 a third child was welcomed into the family. Ralph left the Mennonite Publishing House in 1962 as a result of church and civic committee work that expanded his interests to the wider church community and the local regional community.  When he had the opportunity to buy a local newspaper, he expanded his printing/publishing career by going into business for himself. Ralph’s spirit thrived on helping others and “moving mountains”.  His hobby manifested this on a physical plane by his spending 35 years building, maintaining and beautifying a lake and picnic pavilion to share with the church family and the community.  When each of three grandchildren reached the age of two, he included them in this hobby, providing a special seat for them on the bulldozer, backhoe, and mower. After Ralph’s surgery for colon cancer in 1991, he and Elizabeth began making plans for retirement from their multiple church and community responsibilities.  In 1996 they moved to Greencroft Retirement Center in Goshen, IN where they began the process of life closure with grace and dignity.  They brought their church membership to the College Mennonite Church at this time. Ralph is predeceased by his parents, one brother, and one sister.  He will be dearly and lovingly missed by his survivors wife Elizabeth; two sons, Rodney and Roger; a daughter, Ellen; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, and  four sisters, Nancy, Ferne, Catherine, and Martha. A memorial service will be held at the College Mennonite Church,1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 20, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the Mennonite Education Agency, 63846 CR 35, Goshen, IN   46528.