Mary Ann Baer

Mary Ann Baer, 78, died Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at Avalon Village.           She was born July 11, 1932 in Goshen to the late Noble Leroy and Elna Agnes (Elliott) Stump. On December 2, 1950 she married Melvin J. Bontrager, Sr. He died April 19, 1965. She was formerly married to Arthur R. Baer, Sr. Survived by special friend Robert Pollock, Goshen; eight children, Melvin J. (Lynne) Bontrager, Jr., Mahlon (Tammy) Bontrager, Ronald E. (Cindy) Bontrager, Roger (Cheri) Bontrager, Elna (Michael) Hussey, and Carl “Richard” Bontrager, all of Goshen, Mary Ann (Mark) Ellsworth, Mishawaka and Arthur (Ronda) Baer, Jr. Goshen; 24 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Lucy Stroup and Florence Lamb, both of Goshen. She was preceded by a grandson, Michael Grove; brothers, Harold D., William and John Berkey; and sister, Lillian Fredericks. A lifetime area resident she retired from Goshen Rubber Company/Parker Hannifin Corp., in 1998, where she had worked since 1984; she had also worked at Switches, Goshen, for 10 years. She was a member of West Goshen Church of the Brethren and had attended Jefferson Township High School. She was an eight gallon blood donor for the American Red Cross and a lifetime member of the DAV Auxiliary. She dearly loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 pm Friday and 11 am-12 noon Saturday at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home where the funeral will follow at 12 pm. Pastor Lindell Krebs of Benton Free Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be at Violett Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Research.