Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Wenger, Samuel Esbenshade May 15, 2010 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon S. M. shabodeho@aol.com May 22, 2010, 11:17 pm Published in Lebanon Daily News on May 21, 2010 Samuel Esbenshade Wenger Samuel E. Wenger AKRON Samuel Esbenshade Wenger, 72, entered into rest suddenly in Delaware Township on Saturday, May 15, 2010. He was the husband of Ruth Arlene (Derstine) Wenger, with whom he celebrated 44 years of marriage in June, 2009. He was born in Paradise, a son of the late Samuel Stoner Wenger and Ella Mae (Esbenshade) Wenger. One of Sam's great loves was education. Sam graduated from Pequea Valley High School in 1956. He earned his bachelors degree from Goshen College, and he obtained his masters degree from Temple University. He was a science and mathematics teacher in Newfoundland, Canada, from 1960-1963 in fulfillment of military obligation. Returning to Lancaster County, he taught chemistry at Manheim Central High School from 1963-1988, and was Warwick High School Science Department Chair and chemistry teacher from 1988-1997. Sam had many interests and passions. Sam was a member of Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society and Field Trip Committee Chair, as well as historian for the Wenger Family Association for 25 years. He authored numerous articles and books on genealogy and family history with special interest in Wenger, Esbenshade, Stoner, and Shaubach families. Samuel conducted local genealogy tours and led four European tours for MTS Travel. He was also former president of Conestoga Valley Association, one of Lancaster County's first conservation associations. As a member of Akron Mennonite Church, he was the former chair of the Scholarship Committee, committee member for the 55-plus group, part of the men's choir, the projectionist for church video programs, and a regular participant in the mentoring program and one of his congregation's house churches. Sam worked with "Every Church a Peace Church." He followed his father as a member of the Mill Creek Hunting Club in Tioga County. In earlier years, he was a baseball coach and soccer referee. Sam earned the following awards: 1976 finalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, 1982 recipient of the Earl F. Rebman award from Conestoga Valley Association, and inductee in Pequea Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. His other interests included fishing, hunting, photography, the Phillies, and music. In addition to his wife, Sam is survived by his three daughters, Ann Elizabeth, wife of Jonathan Whipple of Cape May, N.J., Carla Mae, wife of Dennis Vicidomini of Lancaster, and Tonya Lee, with Eric Gjertsen of Philadelphia. His grandchildren are Hannah and Jonathan Whipple, and Nicholas and Tyler Vicidomini. His siblings include Sara Ella, wife of Charles Hoober of Paradise, Louise Elizabeth, wife of Larry Girvin of Richmond, Va., Richard Esbenshade Wenger of Herndon, Va., and the late Marlin Esbenshade Wenger, husband of Jane Idell Wenger of Lancaster. Interment will be private. A public memorial service will be held at Akron Mennonite Church at the convenience of the family. Date and time will be announced at a later date. Contributions in Sam's memory may be sent to Akron Mennonite Church Scholarship Fund, 1311 Diamond St., Akron, PA 17501. Arrangements are by Stradling Funeral Homes, Akron/Ephrata. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, visit Published in Lebanon Daily News on May 21, 2010 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb