Virginia P. Brubaker

Virginia Penn Martin Brubaker, 91, formerly of Manheim went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 4, 2025 at Fairmount Homes, Ephrata, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Menges Mills, York County, PA, she was the daughter of the late Rev. William Henry Martin Sr and Florence Elizabeth Hershey Martin. For nearly 70 years, she was the loving wife of the late Harold Stauffer Brubaker who passed away on March 12, 2025.

As a teenager, Virginia worked for Frank and Hannah Nixon, on their farm in Menges Mills, adjacent to the farm where she lived with her family. She assisted Hannah with housekeeping, laundry, gardening, and meal preparations. During September through December 1949, when she was 15 years old, Virginia was hired by Richard and Pat Nixon to care for their two daughters Julie and Tricia, do light housekeeping, laundry and she prepared meals for them while Richard was campaigning for a Senate seat in California. She traveled from Menges Mills, York, PA to California by car with the Nixons. She was taken to the train station by Richard Nixon to travel home, changing trains in Chicago, by herself.

Virginia enjoyed her life, working, alongside her husband on their dairy farm. For several years, in the 1950’s Harold and Virginia grew tomatoes that were trucked to Florin, PA for rail shipment to the Heinz Company. For most of her life, she was an active member of the former Erisman Mennonite Church, Manheim where, along with her husband, she served as a Trustee, taught Sunday School, and was an active member with the Visitation and Care Ministry. She volunteered at the Mount Joy Gift and Thrift. Earlier, she was a Mount Joy 4-H Club Cake Decorating Leader and she worked at the Country Table Restaurant. For 8 years, she prepared and served food to Southern Gospel Music artists and volunteers at concerts for Garden Spot Promotions, LLC. She loved to entertain guests, warmly welcoming them into her home, and treating them to her delectable foods that she lovingly prepared. It gave her great pleasure to treat her children and grandchildren to her homemade specialties, especially, her scrumptious glazed doughnuts. She loved to travel with her husband, family and friends throughout the United States, Israel, Switzerland, Germany, Alaska, Nova Scotia, and Barbados. Her interests also included sewing, vegetable and flower gardening, and baking.

She will be deeply missed by a son, Lowell married to Debra Brubaker of Millerstown, three daughters, Twila married to Dale Rohrer of Lititz, Kristine married to Mike Robinson of Lancaster and Sharon married to Chad Rohrer of Manheim; 11 grandchildren; Heather, Christen, Crystal, Hillary, Blake, Dresdon, Alex, Candice, Ashley, Jordan, and Reagan, and 11 great grandchildren. She is also survived by three siblings, Barbara (Ira) Heistand, Jane (William) Davis, and Robert (Marjorie) Martin.

In addition to her husband, Harold, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Hershey (Anna) Martin, William (Doris) Martin Jr, a sister, Gertrude (Merlin) Burkholder, a brother-in-law, Daniel (Jane) Miller and a sister-in-law, Nancy (Robert) Martin.

The family wishes to extend a heart-felt thank you to the entire staff at Fairmount Homes. Thank you, friends and family for your loving prayers, visits, and messages. The family is very grateful for the loving, compassionate and excellent care provided by the staff of Caring Hospice.

Graveside service is private and at the convenience of the family. A Celebration of Life Service for Harold and Virginia Brubaker will be held on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 2PM at Manheim BIC, 54 N. Penryn Rd., Manheim, PA 17545. www.manheimbic.org

In lieu of flowers, those desiring may send contributions in Virginia’s memory to the Nancy Martin Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, c/o Nazareth Project, Inc., 237 North Prince Street, Suite 305, Lancaster, PA 17603, or to Caring Hospice 101 Good Drive, 1st Floor, Lancaster, PA 17603 with checks for donations made out to the “Hopewell Foundation” using Virginia Brubaker’s name in the subject line.