Aaron Donald Augsburger, 96, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Nov. 27, 2022, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. He was born Dec. 21, 1925, to Clarence and Estella (Shenk) Augsburger in Elida, Ohio.

He married Martha Louise Kling Augsburger on June 5, 1948, in Paradise, Pa.

He was a respected minister, educator and leader in the Mennonite Church. His ministry and teaching influenced many. He received his education at Eastern Mennonite College, Eastern Baptist Seminary and Temple University.

He taught in several Christian schools. He was the guidance counselor and later superintendent for two years at Bethany Christian High School. He taught in the field of Christian education at Eastern Mennonite University and in several seminaries. He also served as assistant to the dean at Goshen College Biblical Seminary.

He was ordained as a minister in the Mennonite Church in 1951 and pastored in at least 12 settings, including East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa., North Goshen Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind., Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Bahia Vista Mennonite Church, Sarasota, Fla., and Lancaster Mennonite Home, Lancaster, Pa. He concluded his work as a minister in 2003 by serving as pastor at Marion Mennonite Church, Chambersburg, Pa. While in Florida he was president of the Sarasota Ministerial Association. He was an ordained bishop in several Mennonite conferences.

He served in churchwide leadership, including as moderator of the General Assembly of the Mennonite Church and as a member of the Mennonite Commission for Christian Education. He authored several books, Creating Christian Personality, published in 1966, Marriages that Work in 1984, A Pattern for Living in 1993 and Reshaping Your Marriage in 1996. He authored a children’s book, The World Is a Beautiful Place, illustrated by his granddaughter Lara Ressler Horst, in 2007.

He enjoyed writing and reciting poetry. He was driven by his desire to learn and improve, closely following current events and teaching himself baking, clock repair, watercolor, oil painting and how to play the clarinet, guitar, organ and the pan flute.

Survivors include three children, Phyllis Anne (Everett) Ressler of Harrisonburg, Patricia Louise (Wilbur Ressler) Augsburger of Richmond, Calif., and Don Richard (Jane Rutt) Augsburger of Alexandria; two brothers, Myron S. (Esther) Augsburger of Harrisonburg and David W. (Leann) Augsburger of Clairemont, Calif.; a sister, Anna Mary (Milton) Good of Elizabethtown, Pa.; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Martha, on Feb. 18, 2016; and by two brothers, S. Dan (Garneita) Augsburger and Fred E. (Carolyn) Augsburger.

Memorial services were held at Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg. Inurnment was at Bahia Vista Mennonite Church, Sarasota, Fla.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Mennonite Central Committee, Akron, Pa.