Alma Gertrude (Yordy) Brubaker

Alma Brubaker

Alma Brubaker, age 98 of Palmyra, wife of the late Jay Graybill Brubaker and member of the Greatest Generation, passed away at the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home on August 19.  She was a mother of five, grandmother of 11, and great grandmother of 22.

Born March 28, 1919 in Palmyra, Alma graduated from Lebanon High School and attended Millersville University where she earned a degree in education.  Upon graduation, she briefly taught at Ebenezer Elementary School until she met Jay Brubaker of Palmyra; the two wed in 1942.  The couple had two daughters while Jay served as a mechanic in the U.S. Army Air Corps in New York and Tampa, FL.  After WWII, Alma and Jay settled down on Chestnut Street in Palmyra and had three more children.   For decades, the Brubakers were a staple in the Gravel Hill Church community, where service to others was a passionate hobby.  Alma played the piano, served beside Jay in the local Boy Scout Pack, and volunteered at the church in many other areas.  She later served as a substitute teacher at Milton Hershey School, but always remained committed to her church.

Upon Jay’s retirement as an auto mechanic, the Brubakers packed into their camper and saw America.  Dubbed “Geritol gypsies” in a 1980’s article in the Lebanon Daily News, the couple took every opportunity to strike out on the open highway, visiting each of the 48 contiguous states, every Canadian Province and Alaska.  Each spring, Alma and Jay trekked to Florida for Phillies spring training.  Summers during retirement were spent listening to Phillies games on the radio and traveling to local campgrounds with grandchildren.

Jay passed away in 1997.  In his absence, Alma continued to volunteer at the Brethren Home, where she remained the final years of her life.  Jay and her second daughter, Marion Thurman, predeceased Alma.  She is survived by children Nancy Bordner, Barbara Fernsler, Gary Brubaker and Alice Kreider.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26 at Gravel Hill United Methodist Church, 131 Gravel Hill Road, Palmyra.  A public viewing will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m until time of the service.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Rothermel-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc..  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gavel Hill United Methodist Church.

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