Laban Monroe Wingert

Laban Monroe Wingert, age 83, passed away on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 from Prostate cancer. Born June 18, 1927, he was the son of the late Milton Wingert and Clara Garber Wingert.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lillian Wingert, and their children - Vern (Carol) Wingert of Gilbert AZ, Beth Wingert of Chambersburg, PA and Greg (Blanca) Wingert of Mesa, AZ, grandchildren Ashley Wingert of Gilbert, AZ, Michael Wingert of Mesa, AZ and Joshua Wingert of Mesa, AZ. His beloved daughter Cheryl Wingert passed away at age 25.

A man of strong faith and principle, Laban''s life was marked by hard work, service to others and unconditional love and devotion.

Laban was fond of Franklin County, having lived there his entire life. His parents, Milton and Clara Wingert, raised their family of ten children on a farm in Duffield. He attended Duffield''s first one-room school house and went on to graduate from Chambersburg High School. Near the end of WWII, Laban volunteered with Heifer International to deliver cattle to war-ravaged Northern Africa.

Laban met his Canadian wife-to-be, Lillian Morphet of Stayner, Ontario, while attending Messiah College. A former college colleague recently recalled that the Canadians came to Pennsylvania to find the "good men." Together they raised four children.

A farmer and machinist by trade, Laban was most known for his diligent service to the Church and those in need. He served as church deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years and provided a steady, fair hand on many a church board. If someone was ill or needed assistance, Laban was there with supportive words and actions.

In retirement, Laban made numerous cross-country trips to visit children and grand children in Arizona. He also volunteered as a driver at Menno Haven Retirement Center. Above all, he was a caring husband, nurse and at times the doctor''s best consultant in caring for his wife who suffers from diabetes.

Laban loved to sing and in his teen years, he joined Nelson Wingert, Frank Kipe, and younger brother Gerald Wingert to sing numerous Christian hymns in various venues. In the weeks before Laban passed the quartet reunited by his bedside and together they sang one last time.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the Menno Haven staff for exceptional care and love for our dad. Also, Angie Burkett, our dad''s Hospice nurse, thank you for your support, tender words, and sense of humor. You always brightened his day.

Friends may gather to celebrate his life at a Funeral Service to be held on Saturday, August 7th at 2:00 PM in the Antrim Brethren In Christ Church, 24 Kauffman Rd, Chambersburg, PA 17201. A visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral service from 12:00 - 2:00 PM. Burial will be in the New Guilford Cemetery (corner of Mont Alto Road and Fetterhoff Rd).