Carl Eugene Ginder

One of the kindest, humblest, and loving people left us for heaven on February 1, 2026. Carl Ginder lived life to the fullest, practicing the teachings of Christ in the most meaningful way. He was born, at home, to Ralph and Margaret Ginder, on September 30, 1945, in the farming community of Milton Grove, growing up part of Risser’s Mennonite Church. In 1965, Carl married Eunice Ebersole, building their first house that same year, the same one where he passed away suddenly 61 years later.

He attended the one room Milton Grove school, perched on the edge of his family’s farm, through grade 8. Then at Donegal High School, he pursued a curriculum in agriculture which culminated in the state presidency of the Future Farmers of America.

In 1966, as young men were being drafted to fight in Vietnam, Carl faced a defining moment. As a conscientious objector, he registered for voluntary service as his way of serving his country. This decision took Carl and Eunice to Millbrook, New York, where they cared for vulnerable children at Greer WoodyCrest. The experience profoundly changed the direction of their lives and solidified Carl’s calling to care for those most in need.

Inspired by this work, Carl pursued social work, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Marist College and later a Master of Social Work from Hunter College. He went on to become a licensed social worker and director of several New York State–licensed group homes. Even today, adults who had been children under his care in the 1960s and 70s seek him out, sharing that he had been the only father figure they knew—and expressing gratitude for it.

Carl and Eunice lived in Millbrook for sixteen years, where they welcomed their kids Karen, Scott, and Theresa. Carl demonstrated his deeply held values of communing with nature and living off the land. He enjoyed hunting local game, including his favorite and most elusive – turkeys. He established a maple syrup and beekeeping operation with his boss and best friend Mike Richman. He and Eunice had a prolific vegetable garden and preservation operation, raised chickens, the occasional pig, and butchered every deer he harvested. Hikes in the woods included foraging for wild mushrooms. Nature was Carl’s escape whether carrying a gun or a grandkid.

After 16 years, the family moved back to Pennsylvania into the family home. Carl’s career shifted to caring for the elderly as the administrator of the United Zion Retirement Community. His leadership skills flourished, and he oversaw an expansion during the 22 years he led the organization. This was followed by seven years at Messiah Village in Mechanicsburg as the Vice President of Strategic Planning.

Carl retired professionally in 2011 and immediately continued to help others. He poured his heart and soul into LightShine Ministries, arranging volunteers for construction projects in Alaska as well as volunteering at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. Carl would always help anyone with their project – installing a new toilet, repairing drywall, painting a room. You needed help – he was there. Carl was a rock to so many people. Steadfast and consistent, his loving and unjudgmental ways attracted people to him.

His kids kept him and Eunice travelling the globe and learning to intimately understand new cultures. Karen moved to Israel in 1993, marrying Saber and raising three boys – Adam, Jibril and Firas. Carl embraced Bedouin culture and was even honored with slaughtering the goat for a Ramadan celebration, impressing the locals with his butchering skills honed from his farming days. Frequent trips to Israel and summer visits to Pennsylvania fostered a close and meaningful relationship with his grandsons.

After Scott moved to Texas in 1999, and he and Eunice visited frequently, learning about Texas culture, and even dancing at the Broken Spoke Honky Tonk in Austin for Scott’s wedding to Andrea. Julian and Olivia consider Grandma and Grandpa’s home the warmest and coziest place they can imagine.

Theresa and husband Tom made their home next door where they raised Hayley, Ellen, Eden and Lily. Carl and Eunice’s home was a second home for the grandkids, who loved breakfast with Grandpa, the early riser who had the griddle fired up by 5am.

Carl is survived by his wife Eunice, children Karen, Scott, and Theresa, sisters Ann and Marie, grandkids Adam, Jibril, Firas, Hayley, Ellen, Eden, Lily, and great grandkids Nina, Nabil, Karen, Kanariya, Kareem, and Carter. Carl was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Margaret, sisters Janet and Lois and granddaughter Elise.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his memorial service at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church 54 N. Penryn Road, Manheim, on Tuesday February 10, 2026 at 1:30 pm. There will be a time of visitation with the family at the church from 12:00 noon until the time of the service. Interment at Risser’s Mennonite Church Cemetery will be private.

Contribution in Carl’s name can be made to LightShine Ministries, P.O. Box 777, Mount Joy PA, 17552 or https://lightshineministries.org