Rebecca Ruth (Warfel) Layman

Rebecca Ruth (Warfel) Layman, 92, entered her eternal rest on Tuesday night, October 9, 2018. 

Rebecca was born December 13, 1925, in Fentress, Virginia (now Chesapeake), to Charles and Ella Warfel. She graduated from Great Bridge High School and also attended Eastern Mennonite School for one year.  In 1948 she went to Kentucky as part of a group teaching summer Bible school; it was there she met her future husband, Amos Layman from Denbigh, Virginia who was also part of the group.  They married two years later on April 6, 1950.

She is survived by Amos, her husband of 68 years, eight children, Naomi Fehr, Thunder Bay, Ontario; Ellen, York, PA; David (Eva), Elizabethtown, PA; Dorcas, Dryden, Ontario; Chester, Brooklyn, NY; Glenn (Nancy), Quicksburg, VA;  Priscilla Schrock (Steve), Littlefork, MN; and Milton (Karen), International Falls, MN.  She is also survived by seventeen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and one brother, Stanley Warfel, Halsey, Oregon, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Rebecca was predeceased by her parents, two brothers (Donald and Noah) and three sisters (Margaret Schrock, Myra Wanner and Naomi Warfel), two infant daughters (Fern and Esther), and a son-in-law (Edward Fehr).

Rebecca and Amos lived in Denbigh and Chesapeake, Virginia for twenty-six years. In 1976 they moved to Littlefork, MN where they lived for 38 years. In 2014 Amos and Rebecca moved to Elizabethtown, PA. 

Rebecca became a Christian in her youth, and was a faithful, involved member of the Mennonite churches she attended. At the time of her death, she was a member of Marietta Mennonite Church. She loved to sing hymns. The day of her passing, with family and nieces singing for her, she was mouthing the words to “Trust and Obey”, and beating time to the music. 

Rebecca had the gift of hospitality, and loved hosting guests. She was known for her good cooking, especially making pies.  She was fully involved with life.  After Amos’ retirement, she and Amos volunteered a number of times as short-term cooks with Northern Youth Programs and Christian Aid Ministries, among many activities they did together. 

A viewing will be held on Sunday, October 14, 5:00-7:00 PM at Good’s Mennonite Church, 4374 Bossler Rd, Bainbridge, and the funeral will take place on Monday, October 15, 11:00 AM at Good’s Mennonite Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christian Aid Ministries. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rebecca Ruth (Warfel) Layman, please visit our floral store.