Lydia Stoltzfus

Lydia K Stoltzfus was the eighth of sixteen children, born to John and Lydia (Kauffman) King in Lancaster County, PA on January 16, 1938. Lydia grew up working very hard. Her father (butcher John) was a butcher. Young Lydia (butcher John’s Lydia) was usually the only one of the children he chose to accompany his many trips to market, which formed a close father/daughter bond.

She became acquainted with a sturdy dairy herdsman named Emanuel from her youth group, whom she would later marry at nineteen. Lydia carried her servant heart and work ethic right into her marriage. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, and they raised twelve children together (eight sons and 4 daughters). The earlier years of their home were occupied with tending and running dairy farms for hire with the help of their fast-growing family.

In 1975 they took the leap and moved from bustling Lancaster County, PA to the rural rolling hills of middle Tennessee with their eleven children, where the last baby girl (twelfth child) was born that same year. Lydia was an exceptional wife and homemaker. She loved to quilt and was an avid gardener, using her gardening skills, strength, and determination to raise mountains of vegetables to feed her growing family, while fussing over the food that her family consumed, always concerned about their health. She also baked tantalizing homemade bread, then took it to town and sold it to help provide money on the side to cover family expenses, while also making time for her passion for flowers and birds, finding time to cook, can, clean, and help train children.

In March of 1983, they moved with eight of their children one final time one hundred miles to Bethel Springs, Tennessee, settling in one more time with their family. Her husband Emanuel was killed in an accident in December 1992, leaving her widowed at 54 years old and reeling from the tragedy. Her youngest son Paul died by drowning in August 2000, another tragedy. She had an amazing resilience and ability to pick up and go on with a brave spirit, and unfailing faith in God. Lydia was a prayer warrior, was easy-going and trusting, always willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt, especially if they would look her in the eye and give her a convincing story. Sometimes her trusting nature was a delight to salesmen and sometimes lended to the detriment of a naughty child, but somehow that did not deter her from being willing to do it all over again.

She loved to visit and reach out to elderly neighbors with her baked goodies and garden vegetables. In her latter years as her health deteriorated, she was not as able to garden and fully tend to her yard and flower gardens, instead indulging her passion for birds, flowers, quilting, sewing, and spending time with her children and many grandchildren. She always had time, a ready smile, and candy when they chose to stop by. In the last five months she was bedfast as her family cared for her around the clock. 

 Lydia K Stoltzfus, age 85 years, 3 months, 5 days, passed away at her home in Bethel Springs, TN on April 21, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Emanuel S Stoltzfus, son Paul, son-in-law Tim Yannayon, 2 grandchildren, Andrew and Keturah Stoltzfus; 2 great grandchildren Mia Yannayon and Eli Kohen; both of her parents, John L King, and Lydia S (Kauffman) King; five sisters, Rebecca Zook, Katie Esh, Mary Fisher, Sadie Stoltzfus, Naomi Fisher; three brothers, Jacob King, Christ King, and Amos King. She was a member of Finger Christian Fellowship Church. 

Lydia is survived by 11 of her children; Marvin (Linda) of Robesonia, PA, Katie Yannayon (Tim deceased) of Belvidere, TN, John (Renee) of Bethel Springs, TN, Manny (Sandra) of Finger, TN, David (Joan) of Finger, TN Jason (Ada) of Bethel Springs, TN, Martha Beachy (Danny) of Finger, TN, Nathan (Elizabeth) of Finger, TN, Tim (Wilma) of Harmony, NC, Linda Stoll (Steve) of Finger, TN, Marlene Beachy (Harvey) of Finger, TN. 

She is also survived by 53 grandchildren and 53 great grandchildren, 4 sisters, and 3 brothers—Elizabeth Byler (Joseph), Fannie Stoltzfus (Ira), Anna Esh (John), Linda Glick (Edward), John King (Sarah) Aaron King (Barbara), Levi King (Ruth).