Ethel Showalter Strite

Mrs. Strite was born on December 24, 1922 on the family farm near Broadway, Virginia, and was the seventh of nine children of the late H. D. H. and Flora Mae Grove Showalter.

After graduating from Eastern Mennonite School at the age of 16, she spent several years raising chickens, along with her brother Jim, to earn money for college. She earned her degree in Home Economics from Madison College (now JMU) in 1946, then taught in the Home Economics Departments at Bridgewater College and Eastern Mennonite College (now EMU) prior to having a family.

Mrs. Strite grew up attending Trissels Mennonite Church near Broadway, VA and remained active there for more than 25 years after marriage. She was Sunday School superintendent in the children’s department, teaching Sunday School for many years, was active in the women’s sewing circle, and was instrumental in the set-up of the church library. She also volunteered with the Rockingham Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and at Western State Hospital. For the past 40 years, she was an active member of Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg. Mrs. Strite enjoyed traveling, visiting many countries on six continents and circumnavigating the globe in 1972. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining, reading, arranging flowers and doing needlework.

On December 22, 1945, she married Lewis E. Strite, to whom she was married for 60 years. He preceded her in death on March 15, 2006. Mrs. Strite is survived by three children, L. Gerald Strite and his wife, Sharon Moyer Strite, of Harrisonburg; Elaine Strite and her husband, John Viste, of Harshaw, Wisconsin; and Carmen Strite Miller and her husband, Edgar Miller, of Harrisonburg. She has 8 grandchildren, Sonya Routhier, Ryan Strite, Jana Schneider, Magdalen Hess, David Viste, Joseph Viste, Caitlin Miller and Courtney Miller, and six great grandchildren. Mrs. Strite is survived by two sisters, Kathryn Shank and Doris Trumbo, as well as two sisters-in law, Irene Showalter and Joyce Showalter. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Carl Showalter, Howard Showalter, Jacob Showalter, Owen Showalter and James E. Showalter; and one sister, Mary Emma Eby Showalter.

Burial will be at Trissels Mennonite Church near Broadway, Virgina at 9 A.M. on Friday, May 17, 2013. A memorial service will also be held on Friday, May 17 at 11 A.M. at Park View Mennonite Church with Dr. Myron Augsburger and Pastors Phil Kniss and Barbara Moyer Lehman officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception to be held following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Park View Mennonite Church, 1600 College Ave, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802; or Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Compassion Fund, 1491 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.

Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg is handling arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyharrisonburg.com.