Roy Lester Brubaker, 75, of Mifflintown, died June 16, 2017, in a farming related accident at his family’s farm in Cuba Mills, cutting short a life of love and service. He was born on Aug. 22, 1941, in McAlisterville. An educator, missionary, pastor and organic farmer, Roy was one of eight children born into the family of Roy M. and Elva Brubaker (Auker) of McAlisterville. Roy is survived by his wife, Hope (Anita) Brubaker (Beidler); daughter, Angela Brubaker; son, Roy Dale Brubaker and spouse, Julie Hurst, with granddaughters, Frances and Riley; daughter, Phoebe Brubaker; and daughter, Debra Brubaker and spouse, Hannah Smith-Brubaker, with grandchildren, Chandler and Owen. He is also survived by sisters, Doris Martin; Naomi Brubaker; Thelma Diem with spouse, Merle; and Arlene Gehman; brother, Dale Brubaker, and spouse, Pat; several brothers and sisters-in-law, including life-long friend, Luke Beidler. Roy was preceded in death by sisters, Miriam Kauffman and Anna Brubaker.
Roy married Anita Hope Beidler on Sept. 10, 1966, and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Education at Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Va., in 1967. The couple spent 12 years with the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities in Somalia and Kenya as educators and community-builders, eventually focusing on work with Somali refugees and building inter-faith relationships between Muslims and Christians.
In 1982, Roy and Hope returned to Pennsylvania to establish their organic vegetable and berry farm.
In 1983, Roy accepted a pastoral assignment at Lost Creek Mennonite Church where he served as minister until 1993.
Roy also served as the school administrator at Juniata Mennonite School (formerly Delaware Mennonite) from 1983 to 1991, guiding the school in curriculum development, expanding its student base and overseeing the building of a new school building.
From 1993 to the present, Roy’s considerable energy was poured into Village Acres Farm and serving in leadership roles with several sustainable agriculture organizations, including Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative (TOG) and Pennsylvania Certified
Organic (PCO).
He was also an early member and supporter of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) where, over the years, he has served as a mentor to many young farmers and has celebrated rich and enduring friendships.
Memorial services for Roy will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 24, 2017, at Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church, Mifflintown, located just off the Port Royal exit of U.S. 322.
The family will be available for visiting from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, at the church and 9 to 10 a.m., Saturday at the church.
Please also join the family later in the day, on Saturday, for a self-guided tour of the farm, reflecting on Roy’s life and accomplishments in the place that he loved.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Mennonite Central Committee’s Syrian Iraq Crisis Response or to the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, in Roy’s name.
The family is also able to direct memorial gifts for those who wish to make a contribution at the service or the farm.
The earth is a better place and we are better people for Roy’s love and stewardship.