Esther B. (Horning) Boll, 94, of Richland, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Richland Christian Home. She was the wife of the late Joseph B. Boll.
Born in Fivepointville on April 8, 1930, she was the daughter of the late David and Magdalena (Burkholder) Horning.
She was a member of the Shirksville Mennonite Church. For 19 years, she worked as an LPN at the Philhaven Hospital before marrying Joseph at age 52. She then served faithfully as a homemaker and a deacon’s wife.
Esther sponsored Duong Lang and Bao Hai Quach (mother and small son) to come from Vietnam in the 1970s. She shared her home with them for a period of time to help them get established here in America. This became a lasting friendship that continued for the rest of Esther’s life.
She is survived by her stepson, Mark H., husband of Deborah J. Boll, of Newmanstown; stepdaughter, Mary Ann, wife of Marvin R. Gehman, of Myerstown; 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, John, husband of Katie Hurst and then Emma Hurst, Aaron, husband of Lizzie Hostetter and then Florence Hoover, Paul, husband of Verna Hoover, and Daniel, husband of Mary Martin; and sisters, Susanna, wife of Norman Weaver, Etta, wife of Howard Gingerich, Elizabeth, wife of Amos Martin and then Adam Stauffer, and Katie, wife of Edwin Nolt.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Swatara Mennonite Church, 10 Camp Swatara Road, Myerstown. There will be a viewing at the church on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. Interment will follow the service at the Shirksville Mennonite Church Cemetery.