Harry H. and Lottie Weaver Scholarship

Harry Hershey Weaver grew up on a farm near New Holland, Pennsylvania The youngest of three sons, be was the only one who took the opportunity to attend high school. He graduated from New Holland High School after completing the three-year program.

An entrepreneur, he started a poultry business and later a poultry processing plant, both of which he operated for many years. Later, with a partner, he began to construct houses, eventually limiting the business to plumbing, heating and electric.

Harry was a dedicated member of the Hinkletown Mennonite Church, Hinkletown, Pennsylvania. He served on building committees and as Sunday School superintendent He also supported the larger Mennonite Church and other projects such as Black Rock Camp and Retreat Center and the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale. Because of his close friendship with Edna Ruth and J.N. Byler, a former MCC Director of Overseas Relief, Harry frequently supported the Mennonite Central Committee and its causes.

In the community, he served on the boards of the Ephrata Community Hospital and the Eastern Lancaster County School Authority. In his typically quiet manner, he financed students to attend high school, college and graduate school. He also assisted women and men in starting their own businesses.

Lottie Witmer Zimmerman grew up in Farmersville, Pennsylvania. Since her mother had poor health, Lottie ended her formal education at the eighth grade to help with the family and the household. However, Lottie was an avid reader and in that way continued to pursue her educational interests.

In 1932, Lottie married Harry Weaver. She took pleasure in her family, home and garden, taught Sunday School and enjoyed entertaining. She served on the Black Rock Ladies Auxiliary, and as president of her community’s Ladies Auxiliary. Occasionally she traveled with Edna Ruth Byler when Mrs. Byler was beginning the Mennonite Central Committee’s Self-Help Crafts project (now Ten Thousand Villages).

Harry and Lottie’s association with the Bylers extended their knowledge of the Mennonite Church in the U.S. and abroad. The Weavers also broadened their education through travel in the States, Europe, Russia, and the Holy Lands.

This scholarship is established in recognition of Harry and Lottie Weaver’s life-long interest in education and in the Mennonite Church. All three of their children graduated from Goshen College. Glenn H., who gr with a B.A. in Commerce, is now self-employed, managing several real-estate projects and serving as director on the boards of Blue Ball National Bank, James Spring & Wire Company and Landis Homes Retirement Community, Robert L., who graduated from G. C. with a B. A. in Music, and received a M. Mus from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Humanities from Syracuse University, is recently retired from teaching at Centre College, Danville, KY., and Lois J. Friesen, who graduated from Goshen with a B. A. in English, and received a M Ed., and M. A. in English from Wichita State University, is a free lance editor. The Weaver’s children value their liberal arts education from Goshen and through this scholarship wish to honor their parents lifelong interests and help make a similar educational experience possible for others.