Willard E. Gingrich

Willard E Gingrich, 95, of Goshen, IN died Friday, August 3, 2012 at IU Goshen Hospital, Goshen, IN surrounded by his family. He was born in Freeport, graduated from Freeport High School and was a long time resident of Freeport. He was born October 25, 1916 in Freeport, the son of Dilman and Cora (Ebersole) Gingrich. Willard married Olive Graybill in Dakota, IL on July 18, 1940. Willard was a dairy farmer and life time member of Freeport Mennonite Church where he was active as Sunday School Superintendent, teacher and elder. After retiring Willard volunteered at Freeport Memorial Hospital for 17 years, serving 42,000 hours. In February 2006 Willard moved to Greencroft Assisted Living in Goshen, IN where he has lived the past 6 years. Since his move to Goshen he has been a member of Waterford Mennonite Church. Surviving are one son, Myron Gingrich (Lonna Stoltzfus), Madison, WI; six daughters, Rachel (Kenneth) TerBeek, Saukville, WI; Barbara (Byron) Kauffman, West Liberty, OH; Lila (Jim) Gascho, Goshen, IN; June (Bill) Cleaveland, Chehalis, WA; Connie (Byron) Warkentin, Elkhart, IN; Beth Gingrich, Albuquerque, NM; daughter-in-law Elizabeth Gingrich, Goshen, IN; 21 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren. Willard was preceded in death by his wife, Olive, May, 1, 2004, his parents, sister, Lucille Brown, son Keith and son-in-law Everett Oaks, twin great grandsons, Judah and Micah Walker Cleaveland. A memorial service will be held in Goshen, IN at the Gathering Place which is in the Evergreen Assisted Living facility on the Greencroft campus Wednesday, August 8 at 1:30 pm. Visitation at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home, Freeport, IL will be 4-8 pm on Friday, August 10. Services will be held Saturday, August 11 at Freeport Mennonite Church with private graveside services followed by a Memorial Service at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Keith E Gingrich Memorial Scholarship Fund at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, IN and Heifer International. Please sign the guestbook at www.burketubbs.com.