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Margaret Gingrich Varner, of McAlisterville, went to live with Jesus on Sept. 27, 2023. She will be sorely missed by family and friends. Margaret was born in Evendale on June 28, 1949, the daughter of J. Lloyd and Orpha Gingrich, who are both deceased. She has six younger siblings: John (Rosie), David (Phyllis), Dale (Gladys), Barbara, Paul (Deb), and Marie (Kirk Vredevelt).
In 1975, she met Roger "Tim" Varner and became a loving wife to a husband who really appreciated her kind, humble, and gentle spirit, as well as her intelligent and benevolent ways of being generous, creative, and helpful to people wherever she met them. She was a wonderful mother to Josh, Jennie, Joe, and Jeff, and now a grandmother to eight grandchildren. They are Grace, Nathan, Katie, and Caleb Varner, and Tessa, Gage, Trey, and Mya Nafziger.
She was enthusiastic about education. She started hers at a one-room school in Evendale, then
Delaware Mennonite, then East Juniata, then Millersville University, then Eastern Mennonite College.
She spent a summer in New York City because she knew that education is not leamed just from books.
After EMC, she went to Botswana, Africa for almost four years to teach others.
Margaret visited many countries, eager to learn of other cultures. She wanted to see first-hand as much as she could of God's creation and learn from all His people. In 1975, she registered at Bloomsburg University to earn her third degree, and she became a reading specialist.
In 1976, she took a job at West Snyder High School, but soon after, there was a need for a "head teacher" (principal) at Juniata Mennonite School in East Salem. She accepted that position at less than half the pay and spent most of her vocational career at JMS, some years without accepting any salary. She was a very popular teacher. She was also very gifted at teaching Bible lessons at church. When she taught, it was not unusual to see people tear up and on a few occasion, all the class members were teary-eyed at the way she was able to create and present Bible lessons in a way they had never heard before.
Margaret loved reading. She had thousands of books and donated many to JMS and others. She taught everyone she could to love books. She also loved quilts. She and Tim chaired the JMS quilt committee for 25 years and created hundreds of beautiful quilts of all sizes and patterns. She liked to travel. She called herself a "go-along girl," always eager to accompany and enhance any trip or project.
There will be a viewing and celebration service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at Bunkertown Brethren Church. A viewing will begin at 1 p.m., followed by the funeral at 3 p.m. Interment will be at Lauver's Mennonite Church, Evendale.
Arrangements by the Hummel Funeral Home, 574 Hill St., Middleburg, PA.