Rev. Elden E. Ehrhart was serving as minister of David’s Church, Killinger, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1950, the year the congregation celebrated its 180th Anniversary. He began serving in 1942, and according to on-line newspapers, by 1952, he had left David’s and was at a parish in Dushore, Pennsylvania. Later in his career, he served at Klingerstown, Schuylkill County.
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Rev. Elden E. Ehrhart was born September 9, 1912, about one mile west of Dallastown, York County, Pennsylvania, the ninth of a family of ten children. His father, Adam Ehrhart, had been a school teacher for 18 years, but bu the time Elden arrived he was engaged as a bread salesman, and had been for quite a few years. His mother, Mary Jane Ehrhart, had her hands full “bringing up” seven boys and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Ehrhart were life-long Christians, loyal church members, and devoted parents.
Elden attended Sprenkle’s one-room school just across the highway from his home, and was graduated from Dallastown High School in 1929. His education was interrupted for six years, two of high school were spent driving a Model-T truck selling bread. The other four years he was an employee of the National Biscuit Company, in York. He took his turn, as did the other children, in working for the support of his parents, who no longer were able to make a living for themselves.
When the opportunity to attend college in preparation for the ministry presented itself in 1935, he was able to take advantage of it because of the willingness of his sister, Grace Ehrhart, to make the sacrifices necessary for him to do so.
He was graduated with an A. B. degree from Franklin and Marshall College, June 7, 1939, and with a B. A. degree from the Lancaster Theological Seminary, May 20, 1942. In order to make ends meet, he worked part time six out of the seven years which he spent in College and Seminary.
While Sophomore in college, he met Miss Mary Butts,, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Butts, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They were married in the Seminary Chapel, Lancaster, June 2, 1942, Rev. James Wagner officiated and Rev. Henry S. Raab assisted.
He was regularly licensed to preach the Gospel by order of the Mercersburg Synod, May 21, 1942. He was ordained as Minister of the Gospel in his home church. St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, May 31, 1942. Rev. Lee J. Gable, pastor of the church at that time, preached the sermon.
Accepting a call to St. David’s Charge, he and his bride moved to Killinger, June 22, 1942, to begin his duties officially July 1.
Rev. Mr. Ehrhart spends a few weeks of each summer as recreational director in summer camps conducted by our denomination. During the school year 1944-1945, he served as a teacher in the Killinger school. He is still serving as a substitute mail carrier, a position he assumed in 1945.
The Ehrhart family was increased by two, when in September of 1945, Winifred Lee “Timmy” and Thomas Walker “Tommy” came from Alaska to live with them. Timmy and Tommy were born in Lancaster, but had been living with their mother in Juneau, Alaska, for some time. April 5, 1946, Winifred, aged 4, and Thomas, aged 5, were legally adopted and became an integral part of the Ehrhart family.
On March 4, 1950, another child was received into the Ehrhart family. David Elden was born February 24, 1950, just a bit too late to be included in the family picture. Necessary steps will be taken as soon as possible for his adoption.
Pastor Ehrhart is nearing the close of his eighth year as pastor of St. David’s Charge.
At present he is serving as one of the vice-presidents of the County Sabbath School Association, on the Board of Directors, and a trustee of Camp Mensch Mills, training chairman of the Scouting program in Upper Dauphin County, president of the program committee of the local P. T. A., and president of the ministerium, which includes Evangelical and Reformed ministers of three synods, not too far distant.
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From commemorative history, One Hundred Eightieth Anniversary David’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1770-1950.
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