Donald W. Rummel

Donald W. Rummel of Palmyra, formerly of Ambler, and Manheim, passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home.

Don was born on December 4, 1928 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to Arthur and Ivy Geraldine (nee Rager) Rummel. In 1945, when he was a junior in high school, he enrolled as a “seagoing cowboy” to accompany livestock shipments across the Atlantic Ocean, as part of an effort to help rebuild Europe after World War II, and was sent on a cattle boat to Trieste, Italy.

He became licensed to the ministry at the Elgin Church of the Brethren in Illinois in 1951, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Manchester College in Indiana in 1954, after which he attended Bethany Theological Seminary, and became an ordained minister in the fall of 1956. Don served as a pastor for the Milk River Valley Church of the Brethren in Montana during the summers of 1955 and 1956. He was then called to the Palmyra Church of the Brethren, where he served as the associate pastor from 1957-1960. From 1960-1970, he was the pastor of the Ambler Church of the Brethren, followed by a return to Palmyra as Senior Pastor from 1970-1984. He served as pastor of the Codorus congregation from 1984-1988, and then moved to East Fairview Church of the Brethren in Manheim, where he served until his retirement in 1992.

It is interesting to note that over the course of his ministry, he served one of the smallest congregations in the denomination (Milk River Valley, with 26 members at the time) and one of the largest (Palmyra, with over 1,000).

He served as chair of the Christian Education commission for the Tri-District (Eastern, Southern, and North Atlantic), and was twice called to be District Moderator for the North Atlantic and again for the Southern Districts.

In 1980, Don traveled to England, Jerusalem and Greece while on sabbatical, and studied at both Oxford and St. George’s College. In 1987, he and his wife Helen were guests of the Polish government, representing the Church of the Brethren when the denomination was being recognized for agricultural exchange and assistance.

Favorite pastimes included reading, watching football, and playing piano or harmonica. His lifelong passion was camping, and over many years of annual trips he and his family have camped in 48 of the 50 states, usually while traveling in a small car with no air conditioning, and never once splurging on a motel or restaurant, even during sometimes weeklong periods of downpours (“Hard rain like this doesn’t last long”).

Even while living with the deterioration of brain cancer, Don maintained a terrific sense of humor. When asked by his daughter if he was aware of his memory problems, he shrugged and reasoned, “I can’t think of a thing I’ve ever forgotten!”

He leaves behind many happy memories and three daughters: Echo J. Rummel of Silver Spring, Maryland; Lynette Rummel and her husband Rhys Payne of Marlboro, Vermont; and Lisa Getty and her husband Jim Getty of Champlain, New York.

He is also survived by his wife, Anna (“Ann”) Groff (nee Bashore), whom he married in October 2012, and her three sons and their wives: Phil and Cindy Groff; Terry and Barb Groff; and Tom and Diane Groff, all of Annville. In addition, he is survived by a sister, Violet Mae Primel of Mineral Point, Pennsylvania, and several sisters- and brothers-in-law in Ohio.

In June 2011, he was predeceased by his wife of nearly 60 years, Helen (nee Rumsey), whom he married in August of 1951. He was also predeceased by his brother (Arthur) Paul Rummel (who died while serving in World War II), and a sister, Betty Jane Keiper.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Don’s memorial service at the East Fairview Church of the Brethren, 1187 Fairview Road, Manheim, on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 7:00 PM. Friends may visit with the family at the church on Tuesday evening from 5:30 PM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don’s memory to Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202 or to the Hostetter House, at Lebanon Valley Brethren Home, 12 Greenhouse Lane, Palmyra, PA 17078.