Dr. Roy E. Pfaltzgraff

Pa. Dr. Roy E. Pfaltzgraff, 92, of Brethren Village, Pa., died Monday, March 1, 2010, at home. Born in York, Pa., he was the son of the late G. Nevin and Mary Martha Roth Pfaltzgraff. He was the husband of Violet Hackman Pfaltzgraff, his wife of almost 68 years, whom he married April 10, 1942. He was a graduate of North York High School, Elizabethtown College, and Temple Medical School. He served his internship at Lancaster General Hospital. He served with Church of the Brethren Mission from 1944 to 1982 in Nigeria, Africa, specializing in leprosy since 1954. After retiring, he worked for American Leprosy Missions until 1991. He wrote many articles in various publications, co-authored a book on leprosy and participated in international seminars on identifying and treatment of leprosy. He was part of the team to identify the cure for leprosy. He received the 1997 Damien-Dutton Award in recognition for significant contribution towards the conquest of leprosy. He was a member of the Middle Creek Church of the Brethren, where he was minister emeritus, the American Medical Association, the International Leprosy Association, and Brethren Peace Fellowship. He enjoyed woodworking and gardening. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are sons and daughters-in-law Roy and Kathy Pfaltzgraff Jr., of Haxtun, Colo.; George and Buffy Pfaltzgraff, of Hampton, Iowa; David and Ruth Pfaltzgraff, of Keymar; and Nevin and Judy Pfaltzgraff, of Coulee Dam, Wash.; a daughter, Kathryn Pfaltzgraff, of Abbottstown, Pa.; 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by sisters Cleo Nelson, Nola Pfaltzgraff, and Janet Booze. The family will receive friends from 2:30 until the time of service, 3 p.m. Sunday at the Brethren Village chapel, 3001 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, Pa. Private interment will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to American Leprosy Missions, 1 ALM Way, Greenville, SC 29601. Arrangements are by Spacht Funeral Home in Lititz, Pa. Sign this guest book online at www.carrollcountytimes.com.