ADDENDUM BY THE EDITOR:
He is buried next to his beloved Ada at Metzler's Mennonite Cemetery in West Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. A simple stone marks their grave. His parents and sister Mabel are buried close by.
On the morning of his death he visited his sister Mabel at Landis Homes. It was a Tuesday and he always visited her on Wednesday. She told me later that he was puffing extensively when he left her place. The day was quite warm and he mowed the steepest part of the lawn first. A few minutes later his neighbor found him dead. I think he may have decided to push it a little harder that day and end it all a little sooner. It was like him to take control of even his last hours. He never liked to have things happen by chance.
There was a very stormy meeting at his church a few days before he died. I found in his diary that he wrote in large letters that evening the following entry: WOE! WOE! WOE! That meeting really upset him. I think it may have contributed to his lack of desire to continue living.
Dad, you have now entered your final NEST. Goodby and I love you. Your son, Jay
jdw July 23, 2002
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