“Families are like quilts: lives pieced together, stretched with smiles and tears, colored with memories, and bound by love.” Alta Krabill was a devoted wife, loving mother, and a proud grandmother. She gave her family the greatest gift: a firm foundation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alta Louise Krabill went to her Heavenly home Sunday evening, July 3, 2016 in Lexington Court Care Center surrounded by her family. She was 90.
Alta was born September 21, 1925 to parents Bertram David and Gladys Delight (Zook) Snyder in Cheraw, Colorado. She worked on the family farm and graduated from Cheraw High School with the class of 1942. She later attended several colleges and earned a secretarial certificate from Goshen College.
On Aug. 21, 1949, she married Murray Krabill and together raised six children.
In 1951 they moved to Fredericktown, to accept a church planting assignment through Mennonite Church USA. Murray was a self-supported pastor of Gilead Mennonite Church, and he couldn’t have done it without Alta. For years she typed the weekly bulletins, taught Sunday school classes, often led singing for worship, and was the historian for the church. The church was their life and their mission.
In 1961 Alta and Murray moved the family into the house they lived in, farmed, neighbored, and loved. Starting with only seven cows, their dairy business grew — at its height they milked 75 cows and farmed about 1,000 acres. Alta had a passion for gardening and especially loved strawberries. With help from her children, she would freeze over 100 quarts in a season, and in the evenings everyone had a job from stemming to smashing to freezing the berries.
Alta was very well known for her donuts, cinnamon rolls, quilts, rag rugs, and her love of service. Rarely an event went by when she didn’t deliver a tray full of donuts.
She is survived by her loving husband of almost 67 years, Murray Krabill, of Lexington; children (and spouses): Dr. Ruby Payne (Tee Bowman), of Corpus Christi, Texas, Chet (Grace) Krabill, of Mt. Gilead, Sharon (Stan) Swarzendruber, of Hesston, Kansas, John (Debra) Krabill, of Fredericktown, Wesley (Susie) Krabill, of West Liberty, Ohio, and Ruth (Scott) Weirch, of Denver, Colorado; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; siblings: Melvin (Isla) Snyder, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Lois (Jake) Birkey, of Manson, Iowa, and Alma (Stan) Schloneger, of Louisville, Ohio; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by siblings Allen, Ruth, and Kenneth Snyder.
Her family will receive friends, 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2016 in the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home. A funeral service giving glory to God for Alta’s life will be held 10 a.m. Thursday in the Gilead Mennonite Church (7090 County Road 121 in Mt. Gilead). Pastor Matt Roggio will officiate and burial will follow in Shauck Cemetery.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Mennonite Central Committee and brought to her services or made online at MCC.org
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Alta’s family and encourage you to share a fond memory or message of condolence to them at http://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituary/alta-krabill/
