Mary Alice (Weber) Lapp, 91, of Goshen, Ind., and formerly of Akron, Pa., and Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 27, 2022, after suffering a stroke. She was born July 29, 1931, to B. Franklin and Sarah Margaret (Hostetter) Weber in Lititz, Pa.
She always knew she wanted to be a teacher. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Eastern Mennonite College after her aunts encouraged her to pursue a teaching degree. She received a master’s degree from James Madison University and taught junior high and high school English in Cleveland, Ohio, Elkton, Va., and Norristown. She taught college classes at Bethlehem University in Palestine and in Calcutta, India. She served both as a Sunday school and Bible school teacher at Lititz Mennonite Church.
She was an impressive hostess and traveling companion to her husband, John, as he served as an administrator at Mennonite Central Committee and Goshen College for many years. Her support and management skills made his work possible. During their 67 years of marriage, they traveled throughout the U.S. and internationally, living for extended periods in Jerusalem, Palestine, and Calcutta, India.
She was the author of two books: Christ Is Our Cornerstone: 100 years at Lititz Mennonite Church; and Woodcrest Retreat: 50 Years of Sharing Christ’s Love 1959-2009. She also reviewed books and contributed articles to many Mennonite publications.
An active volunteer, she served on the boards of the American Association of University Women, Salvation Army, Lancaster Mennonite School and Mennonite Publishing House. She served as a Red Cross volunteer at Goshen General Hospital and Ephrata Community Hospital for many years and volunteered at the Ephrata ReUzit store. She was a singer, artist, pianist, baker, cook, hostess, gardener and voracious reader.
Survivors include her husband of 67 years, John A. Lapp; a son, John F. (Sandra Shenk) Lapp; two daughters, Jennifer (Robert) Lerch and Jessica W. (Phil Hertzler) Lapp; two sisters, Sally Horst and Joyce Busch; a brother, Samuel Weber; six grandchildren and a great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by a brother, B. Michael Weber.
A memorial service of her life will be held on Friday, October 21 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to College Mennonite Church, Mennonite Central Committee, Goshen College, or Eastern Mennonite University.
