Martha E. Krabill

Martha Elizabeth Hiestand Krabill, 95, of Goshen, passed into the loving arms of her Maker, Sunday, November 23, in her home after a brief illness. Martha was born October 18, 1919, to the late Anna (Hoffman) Shank and Christian J. Hiestand near Bainbridge in Lancaster County, Pennyslvania. She attended a one-room elementary school at Wickersham, graduating in 1936 from Bainbridge, the local three-year high school, and in 1937 from Eastern Mennonite High, Harrisonburg, Virginia. From 1937-1944 Martha taught private piano to over 100 students at a time, driving a 30-mile radius to their homes for lessons. Annual recitals for her students were held at the East Donegal Township High School Auditorium. For three years following 1944 she studied piano and music theory at Goshen College. One summer she served as a volunteer at the White Earth Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota. On August 30, 1947 she was married to Rev. Russell Roth Krabill, a native of Wayland Iowa, at the Marietta Mennonite Church, Marietta, Pennsylvania by Bishop Noah Risser, assisted by her brother Rev. John S. Hiestand. Martha and Russell celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends in August, 1997. Martha was a loyal supporter and ministry partner with her husband who pastored four Elkhart County Mennonite Churches over a 50-year period: Locust Grove, North Goshen, Prairie Street, and Holdeman. She shared her gifts of hospitality with the many members of her church and extended family networks. Martha continued to teach private piano in her home until her early 80's, having taught students from ages 4 to 83. She was a member of Prairie Street Mennonite Church. Surviving are her daughter Mary Ann (Dennis) Hollinger of Beverly, Massachusetts, a son James Russell (Jeanette) Krabill of Elkhart; five grandchildren, Matthew (Toni) Krabill of Pasadena, California; Elisabeth Krabill (Rafael) Barahona of Goshen; Mary Laura Krabill of Pasadena, California; Daphne Hollinger (Ryan) Fowler of Atlanta, Georgia; Naphtali Hollinger (Nathan) Mitten of Charlotte, North Carolina; seven great-grandchildren and a sister, Miriam (Benjamin) Kraybill of Palmyra, Pennsylvania. She is preceded in death by her husband Russell Krabill, and her brothers John S. Hiestand, Paul S. Hiestand, and Christian J. Hiestand. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home in Goshen. The funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at Prairie Street Mennonite Church, Elkhart with additional viewing one-hour prior. Burial will follow at the Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart. Memorials may be made to Mennonite Mission Network, 3145 Benham Ave., Suite 3, Elkhart, IN 46517.