Born: June 28, 1931.
Died: February 22, 2025
Barbara S. Stoltzfus, 93, died on Saturday at her home in Elverson, PA, surrounded by many of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. That morning, when heaven was mentioned, she smiled at the thought of joining her husband, Ammon, and more importantly her Savior, Jesus.
Barbara, known lovingly as Mom-mom to her family and members of her church community, was born to Old Order Amish parents, Daniel and Rachel Esh, in Churchtown, PA, on June 28, 1931. During her childhood on a local farm, she made headlines for jumping out of an out-of-control buggy that careened from Goodville to Blue Ball.
She married Ammon Petersheim Stoltzfus in November,1950. In 1952, together they left the Amish church. Later, they helped establish Twin Valley Bible Chapel. The couple joined Community Evangelical Free Church, now Brick Lane Community Church, in 1987. She and Ammon spent three years establishing a poultry operation in Peru for R.G. LeTourneau along with their then six children. Alongside Ammon and her children, Barbara helped run a poultry farm for many years, which was later developed into the community Summerfield at Elverson. They also traveled the world visiting and encouraging missionaries.
Widowed in 1994, Barbara continued attending Brick Lane for nearly forty years. Her characteristic service and self-sacrifice stand as a testament to her unflinching faith in Jesus. Countless members of her family, church, and town remember occasions when her thoughtfulness resulted in countless loaves of bread, crafts or other tangible blessings.
The matriarch of her large Stoltzfus clan, Barbara will be dearly missed by her seven children: Verna Estes (Steve) of Elverson, Merle (Diane) of Elverson, Esther Prosser of Elverson, David (Carol) of Elverson, Sharon Lucas (David) of Bernville, PA, Carol Hoke (Curtis) of Elverson, and Cynthia Rowland (Landon) of Westford, MA. Her 37 grandchildren and 96 great-grandchildren will cherish her memory. The afternoon of her death, a large group of her family gathered to encourage one another by singing the hymns that Mom-mom loved.
Services for Barbara will be held at Brick Lane Community Church, 52 South Brick Lane, Elverson on Wednesday, February 26. Visitation will be at 10:30 AM. The service will begin at 12:30 PM followed by a luncheon and private family burial.
Arrangements by The Labs Funeral Home of Honey Brook, PA.