Elizabeth R. "Betty" Mumma

Elizabeth R. “Betty” Mumma, 81, of Lancaster, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Hospice and Community Care, Mount Joy. Betty was born and raised in Guatemala, Central America. She was mentored under the Central American Missions and began serving the Lord as a sacred soloist and recording artist for the TGNA radio station, where she had both a weekly children’s radio program and a television program. Betty was also a featured soloist for the Billy Graham Crusade in Guatemala, and graduated from the Evangelical Institute of Latin America- highest honors- with a degree in elementary education. She continued her education at Bob Jones University, where she met her loving husband, Paul. She furthered her studies in music and vocal performance at Elizabethtown College and studied brain hemisphericity at Gratz College in graduate work. 

Over the next three decades God used Betty to touch many lives. She was a choral director of children’s and adult choirs, cantatas and Christian programs. She served at various Grace Brethren churches including Lancaster, Elizabethtown and Lititz Grace. She was the first teacher hired by Lititz Christian school as a kindergarten and music teacher. She absolutely loved training the next generation to serve the Lord in music. Betty enjoyed coordinating music for the Lititz Grace Brethren church and the fellowship of Grace Brethren churches as a district, regional and national judge in vocal performance. Her ministry in education extended to Liberty Baptist, Locust Grove Mennonite, Manheim Christian Day, Mount Calvary of Elizabethtown and Kraybill Mennonite School from which she retired. 

Following her retirement she and her husband team taught at Day Spring Christian Academy and various home school co-ops. Betty also served on the Board of Directors of the Pocket Testament league and represented the league as a featured soloist for Elizabeth Elliot at the PT convention in Spain. For the past 30 years, she also loved serving in the music ministry of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster

She was a powerful example of God’s tender mercies and extended the love of Christ to everyone with whom she came in contact. Missions, of which she was the product, became the driving force of her life - whether in her music ministry or her career as an educator. Betty’s wonderful life of service also included trips to Micronesia and Europe, accompanying students on educational tours led by her husband, Paul. No matter where Betty was in this world, she was a bright light pointing people to Christ. Even during Betty’s brief illness, she was reaching the medical community for the Lord. While being held in the loving arms of her husband, surrounded by family, singing Great is Thy Faithfulness, and I Surrender All, Betty passed into the glorious presence of her Savior. 

Surviving are husband Paul G. Mumma, children Edward S. Mumma of Mount Joy, Sherry M. Zimmer (Paul Zimmer) of Yap, Micronesia, Heidi M. Shannon (Steve Shannon) of Conestoga, 13 grandchildren, Nicholas, Alexandra, Sophia, Tony Mumma, Angelina Z Oldham, Paul A. Zimmer, Hanna Z.Shannon, Jacob, Sarah, Clara Zimmer, Mecina Hadley, Ella, Layla Shannon, 2 great grandchildren, Joel, Svea Oldham, 3 siblings, Jose Reyes, Ruthy R. Deleon and Rodolfo Reyes. Preceding her in death is a son, Anthony B. Mumma, a brother, Avelino Reyes and her parents Jose and Romelia Reyes.

A celebration of life service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 11 am. Refreshments and visitation with the family will follow the service.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Lancaster Art Song Society Inc., 6869 River Rd. Conestoga PA. 17516 or online at lass-pa.com. L.A.S.S. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which offers training to young musicians with the goal of serving God to the best of their ability. This was Betty’s heart.