J. Marvin Lahr

J. Marvin Lahr J. Marvin Lahr, 91, formerly of Lancaster, died on Sunday, September 14 at Moravian Manor, Lititz. He was predeceased by his wife, Irene M. Lahr, with whom he shared a marriage of more than 65 years. The son of John G. Lahr and Bertha Harnish Lahr, Marvin was born in the Smoketown/Strasburg area on June 26, 1923 and attended East Lampeter High School. For several years he worked in the family’s wholesale greenhouse business located in Smoketown and later for his father-in-law, Willis E. Minney, Lampeter, as a plumber. In 1956 he joined New Holland Machine Co. (later Sperry New Holland) as a production welder at the company’s Mountville plant. After 28 years of service he retired in 1984. In the same year he began a second career as a crossing guard for Manheim Township School District. To drivers on the Lititz Pike, Marvin was well-known for many years as “The Man with the Mitts” as he facilitated school buses and traffic from his post at the end of School Drive in Neffsville. He retired from crossing guard duty in 2008 at age 84. Marvin’s surviving family includes a daughter, Norene K. Lahr, Lancaster, nieces and nephews. Minnie, his much-loved Boston Terrier will also be missing her "dad." He was preceded in death by his sister Marie, wife of F. Mervin Buch, Ephrata. A man of many interests, Marvin’s varied hobbies included photographing Pennsylvania’s covered bridges, bicycling, cross-country camping vacations, canoeing and sailing. For many years he also enjoyed roller skating with Irene as part of the Fountainblu Old Timers Skating group, New Cumberland, Pa. Family and friends are invited to share conversation and memories of Marvin during an informal gathering that will take place on Sunday, September 21 during 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Community Room at The Groffs Family Funeral Services, 528 W. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA. Interment will be private. Contributions in Marvin’s memory can be made to Lancaster Public Library, 125 N. Duke Street, Lancaster PA 17602 or to Hospice and Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604.

J. Marvin Lahr

September 15, 2014