Clair Groff Metzler

Clair Groff Metzler, 82, of Ephrata, PA, passed away, with his wife by his side, on Tuesday afternoon, April 19, 2016 at the Lancaster General Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Ronks, PA, and a lifelong Lancaster area resident, he was the son of the late Isaac John and Mae Groff Metzler. Clair was the husband of Charlene M. Morrison Metzler. They celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on June 3, 2015. He was a graduate of Mount Joy High School and Penn State University, York Campus, and had served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict era. He played on the Army soccer team while he was stationed at the Rhein-Mein Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany. While there, he also traveled extensively throughout Europe, photographing his journeys. He was an electrical technician for the former Bell Laboratories, now Alcatel-Lucent, in Reading, PA, for over 27 years until he retired in 1987. Clair was a 50-year member of New Creation (formerly St. Paul’s) United Methodist Church in Lancaster. He loved doing Sudoku and Jumble puzzles daily, playing card games and attending his grandchildren’s activities as well as various local high school sporting events. His music interests included Southern Gospel, Christian, Bluegrass, organ music and going to the summer lawn concerts in Mountville and New Holland as well as the Lancaster Community Concerts. Visiting Longwood Gardens, Ocean City, MD, and Pocono Plateau Church Camp also held a special place in his heart. He was contented with the simple pleasures of life, often taking time to watch sunsets. Clair was a caring and faithful husband, father and grandfather who really enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Charlene; his children: C. Todd (Carole P.) Metzler of Wilmington, DE, and Tracy D. Wilcox of Lititz; his grandchildren: Timothy, Jonathan and Matthew Metzler and Sierra and Hunter Wilcox. He is also survived by his sisters: Virginia Ebersole of Lititz, Joyce (John) Petro of Kalamazoo, MI, Jane (Joel) Leaman of Camp Hill, and Carol (Robert) Harnish of Conestoga, and his brothers: Elvin (Jean) Metzler of Manheim and Glenn (Betty) Metzler of Lancaster, his sister-in-law, Margaret Metzler, his brother-in-law, Robert Kopczynski, and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Tamara Marie Metzler, and his siblings: Mildred Marshall, Evelyn Stoner, Wayne Metzler, Harold Metzler, Everett Metzler, Ella Kopczynski and Nancy Metzler. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Celebration of his Life service at New Creation United Methodist Church, S. Queen & Farnum Sts., Lancaster, PA, on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at The Groffs Family Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc., W. Orange & Pine Sts., Lancaster, PA on Friday evening, April 29, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent in Clair’s memory to either the Pocono Plateau Conference & Retreat Center, 304 Pocono Plateau Rd., Cresco, PA 18326 or to Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Dr., P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125. Military honors will be rendered by the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard.