Obituary of Simon Martin "Marty" Witman

Simon Martin “Marty” Witman, 93, passed away in his sleep on April 16, 2024. Born on February 28, 1931, he was the son of the late Amos and Ellen Sipling Witman. He was the husband of Lois Becker Witman for 66 years prior to her passing in 2018.

As a child, Marty was hired out as a farm laborer in the Mount Joy and Milton Grove areas, living with those families. He attended area schools and graduated from Mount Joy High School in 1950.

In 1952, Marty married Lois Douple Becker in the Florin Church of the Brethren at its previous location on Main Street in Mount Joy. Together, they started their agricultural journey working for Lois’ uncle, Clarence Douple.

The spring of 1957, the family moved to a farm on Airport Road in East Donegal Twp. As a tenant farmer, Marty milked 20 cows, fed chickens, steers, hogs, and grew tobacco. To supplement their income, Marty drove truck, picking up milk in cans, hauling coal, and delivering bricks to construction sites. In 1964, Marty and Lois purchased the farm and a new career in construction began. He was employed by Jacob Habecker, eventually becoming a part owner in the business. Later, he worked for Harold Stoppard Construction and Kevin Zurin Construction.

In 1994, Marty ended his farming career by selling the farm to his son, Doug, and building a house on the corner of the farm. However, he maintained his farming spirit by growing a large garden and giving produce to those in need. Retirement came for Marty in his 90s when he stopped mowing grass at Highlands of Donegal golf course.

Marty grew up in the church and served the Lord in many ways throughout the years. He taught Sunday school, was a Junior High advisor, trustee, deacon, and served on various committees. He also helped to build the present church building on Bruce Avenue in Mount Joy. He participated in mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic and served with disaster relief work across the United States. These experiences led to many years of involvement with the Brethren Disaster Relief Auction (BDRA), serving where needed.

Marty also served as a board member with COBYS, BDRA, Rainbow’s End Youth Center, Crop Walk, and anywhere else he felt the Lord’s call. As Marty’s physical abilities were declining, the fire for his Lord intensified. He became a prayer warrior, calling on others to offer prayer and support.

Marty made many acquaintances during the decades he was an umpire for the Donegal Area Church Softball League. In his older years, he played softball in the Old-Timers’ League and enjoyed weekly rounds of golf with friends.

Marty is survived by his second wife, Janice Risser Gantz Witman; three sons, Douglas, husband of Carol Zimmerman Witman, of Marietta, Donald, husband of Kim Pensinger Witman, of Vienna, VA; and Daryl Witman of Elizabethtown; and five grandchildren, Jeffrey, husband of Tonia Heller Witman, of Marietta, Timothy, husband of Nichole Best Witman, of Mount Joy and their children Emma and Blake, Stephanie Witman of Columbia, Alexandra, wife of Jonathan Goodnight, of Arlington, VA, and their children Eleanor and Theodore, Benjamin, husband of Kaitlyn Houk Witman, of Vienna, VA, and their children Avalina, Mariana, and Oliver. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters.

The family thanks Pastor Tom Weber of Florin Church of the Brethren for his tireless help, Dr. Jeffrey Rittenhouse of Norlanco Family Medicine for his care, support, and understanding, and finally, the cheerful faces at Hartz Physical Therapy in Mount Joy as they helped Dad “move” along.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday afternoon, April 20, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Florin Church of the Brethren, 815 Bruce Avenue, Mount Joy, PA. The family will receive guests at the church during a public viewing on Friday evening (TONIGHT) from 6-8:00 PM. There will be no viewing on Saturday, however, friends may greet the family at the church on Saturday afternoon from 2:00 PM until the time of the service and again during a luncheon in the fellowship hall of the church immediately following the service. Interment in West Green Tree Brethren Cemetery is private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Rainbow’s End Youth Center, 105 Fairview Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552 or to BDRA, 3016 South Pine Road, Fredericksburg, PA 17026. To express a condolence with the family, visit  www.spencefuneralservices.com. To view a livestream of the service, visit https://my.gather.app/remember/simon-martin-marty-witman