Obituary of A. Lois Schwanger

A. Lois Schwanger, 87, of Elizabethtown, exchanged her earthly address for her heavenly home on Wednesday morning, May 21, 2025 at Lancaster General Hospital.  Born in Elizabethtown, she was the daughter of the late Wayne P. and Elizabeth Cannon Lehman.  She was the wife of Walter R. Schwanger for 64 years on March 5.

A homemaker, Lois was an active member of West Green Tree Church of the Brethren where she served as a deaconess for 25 years, as a Sunday school teacher, secretary, and organist.  She was a 1956 graduate of the former Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, VA.  In her earlier years, she was employed as office manager by the former Klein Chocolate Company in Elizabethtown and then as Ann Klein’s personal secretary.  She also served for one year in Brethren Volunteer service working as a secretary and in the gift shop at Church World Service in Modesto, CA.

In addition to sewing and cooking, Lois enjoyed camping and traveling, including two trips across the United States with her family in a camper.  She often added pieces of local interest to her Cat’s Meow collection when traveling.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by five children, Mellanie E. Williams of Elizabethtown, Jeffrey W., husband of Dori Kreiner Schwanger, of Hummelstown, Dwayne P., husband of Wanda Espenshade Schwanger, of Elizabethtown, Beverly A., wife of David Heckman, of Moneta, VA, and Helen E., wife of Eric McCombs, of Russellville, AR; 11 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and a sister, Helen Keener of Rheems.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday morning, May 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM at West Green Tree Church of the Brethren, 740 Greentree Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.  There will be no public viewing.  The family will receive guests at the church on Thursday morning from 10:00 AM until the time of the service.  Interment will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.  Please omit flowers.  If desired, contributions may be made to the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002-2755 or to the charity of the donor’s choice. 

To watch a livestream of the service, visit https://youtube.com/live/z66WG13meU8?feature=share