Lyman Hostetler

Lyman Hostetler, 92, of Berlin, died Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at Walnut Hills Retirement Community.

He was born May 28, 1929, in Berlin, the son of Ira and Elsie Mildred (Miller) Hostetler. He graduated from Berlin High School in 1946 and married Beverly Ann Hostetler in 1950.

He retired from Owen Illinois in Berlin, after working there for 23 years — one year as a scheduler, 18 years as an administrative manager and the last four years as plant manager. Before that, he served in Mennonite Voluntary Service at Kiowa County Hospital in Greensburg, Kansas, was a local and long-distance truck owner and driver, and worked at Holmes Limestone and Hardy Coal Co.

Lyman attended Berlin Mennonite Church as a youth and became a member at Martins Creek Mennonite Church, where he served in numerous leadership positions, including Sunday School superintendent, Sunday school teacher, and several terms as Elder. Lyman also took on active leadership roles in his community, including serving on the Holmes County Business Association, Holmes County Board of Education, East Holmes Board of Education, Holmes County Health Department, Berlin Promoters Club and Berlin Development Corporation.

Lyman became an avid runner and bicyclist in his 40s. In his 60s, he would bike one mile for each year he had been alive on his birthdays. As he got into his 80s, he switched to walking and was still exercising almost an hour a day in his 92nd year. He had a great sense of humor and an optimistic personality. He was often the favorite customer at restaurants he frequented.

During retirement, Lyman and Beverly enjoyed traveling to gardens throughout the U.S. and spending winters at their home in Sarasota, Florida. During the last years of Beverly’s life, Lyman was a devoted and loving caretaker of his “Bup.” They were married 63 years.

Surviving are his children, Brad (Lee) Hostetler of Mansfield, Phil (Jody) Hostetler of Walnut Creek, and Sheri (Jerome Baggett) Hostetler of Alameda, California; grandchildren, Stephen, Jessica, Mitch, Cody and Patrick; and great-grandchildren, Lily, Henry, Virginia, Oscar, Elsie and Hugo.

Lyman was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, his parents, and his sister Edna Hoxworth.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Walnut Hills Retirement Community and Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare for their lovingkindness and their amazing care of Lyman.

An outdoor memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at 2:00 pm in the pavilion located in the wooded ravine behind Martins Creek Mennonite Church. The Geib Funeral Center at Dover is handling cremation care.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either Martins Creek Mennonite Church (6111 County Road 203, Millersburg, OH 44654) or the Mennonite Voluntary Service program of First Mennonite Church of San Francisco (290 Dolores Street, San Francisco, CA 94103).