Richard E. Witmer

MILLERSBURG- The spirit of Richard "Dick" Witmer went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday evening, December 19, 2010. His physical body remains with us until the resurrection of all believers at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Knowing that he is in Heaven is a great comfort to his family. Richard was born on a farm just east of Millersburg on November 29, 1919, and he lived, worked, and worshipped in the Millersburg area all his life. His life-long sales career began in the high school candy store, continued after graduation with Troutman's Chevrolet, the Seal Glove Company, and finally culminated in his ownership of Witmer Motors, a Lincoln Mercury dealership, which he operated for forty years. Richard was a member of David's Community Bible Church, where he taught Sunday School for more than fifty years and served on the Consistory for many years. One of Richard's areas of keen interest was world missions, especially the work of OMS, International and Brethren in Christ missions. This mission interest led to several trips abroad, including a three-month world tour of missions in 1962. Richard was active in Men for Missions, a branch of OMS. He served on the Board of Trustees of Houghton College and of Messiah College, the latter for twenty years. Among Richard's close friends in Millersburg were the Reverend Charles Leitzel, Mr. Leon Kocher, Mr. Harold Lenker, Mr. Charles Phillips, Dr. Eugene Adams, Mr. Bob Rissinger, Mr. Jim Witmer, the Reverend Luke Keefer, Sr, and many others too numerous to mention. Richard was pre-deceased by his parents, Elmer and Helen Neagley Witmer of Millersburg; by his sister, Mrs. Arlene Witmer Roddick of Shippensburg; and by his brother-in-law, Mr. Orrie Novinger of Millersburg. He is survived by his wife of sixty-eight years, Miriam Keefer Witmer; two sisters, Mrs. Betty Witmer Novinger and Mrs. Geraldine Witmer Miller, both of Millersburg; two brothers-in-law, Mr. Vaughn "Duffy" Miller of Millersburg and Mr. Jack Roddick of Shippensburg. He is also survived by his first cousin, Mr. Earl "Jim" Witmer and his wife, Bernice, of Millersburg; by his three children and their spouses: Mrs. Connie Parks and her husband, Dr. James Parks of Clermont, Georgia; Mr. David Witmer and his wife, Margaret, of Millersburg; and Dr. Dennis Witmer and his wife, Dr. Diana Dickson-Witmer, of Greenville, Delaware. His legacy also includes six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Richard will be remembered for his love of cars, his antique car collection, his generosity to God's work, his enjoyment of travel, and his unique sense of humor. He will be missed until we see him again. Services will be held on Tuesday Dec. 28 at 11:00 AM at David's Community Bible Church in Killinger. Visitation will be held from 6-8 PM on Monday Dec. 27 at the Hoover-Boyer Funeral Home in Millersburg. Burial will be in the church cemetery at the families convenience. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to David's Community Bible Church 1072 Route 25, Millersburg, PA 17061 or OMS, International PO Box 1648, Monument, CO 80132-1648.