J. Morgan Frantz

J. Morgan Frantz

J. Morgan Frantz ("Jay"), 94, of Palmyra, PA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Londonderry Village.  He was born Thursday, January 3, 1924 in Lehighton, PA to the late Morgan and Mary (Stimmel) Frantz.  He is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn Grace (Lentz) Frantz. 

Jay attended Goshen College before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.  Returning to Pennsylvania, he married Evelyn in 1947 and then finished his bachelor's degree from Elizabethtown College in 1950. Jay and Evelyn moved to Indiana in 1952 and they lived in Mishawaka, Indiana for almost 40 years, where Jay taught English and Journalism at Penn High School.  He earned his masters degree in 1979 from Indiana University. During their years in Indiana, Jay and Evelyn were faithful members of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren in South Bend.  After retirement, they moved back to Pennsylvania and attended the Palmyra Church of the Brethren for many years.  Jay was an avid woodworker, enjoyed painting with watercolors, and could often be found golfing or bowling.  Most importantly he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. 

Jay is survived by a son, Ronald Jay Frantz and wife Patrice of Grand Haven, MI; 2 daughters: Donna Lynn Conner of Galveston, TX, and Leanne Robin Barkley and husband Dale of Tucson, AZ; 8 grandchildren: Leigh and Erin Frantz, Brandon Conner, Megan Voskamp, Jill Scott, Olivia Craig, Angela Hawkins, and Nicole Nielsen; and 8 great-grandchildren.  He was predeceased by a brother, Lloyd Frantz, and a granddaughter, Elise Joy Frantz.            

A memorial service will be held Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11 AM at Palmyra Church of the Brethren, 45 N. Chestnut St., Palmyra, PA 17078 with Pastor Dennis Lohr and Chaplain Mary Eller officiating.  Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10 AM until time of the service.  Burial will take place in Grand View Memorial Park, Annville at 2 PM.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Rothermel-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 25 W. Pine St., Palmyra, PA 17078. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Palmyra Church of the Brethren or to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, with checks made payable to Penn State and mailed to Office of University Development and Alumni Relations, PO Box 852, Mail Code HS20, Hershey, PA 17033. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.rothermelfuneralhome.com/.

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