Larry Zeller

MIFFLINBURG – Larry L. Zeller, 71, of Mifflinburg went home to be with his Lord peacefully at 3:56 p.m., Saturday, May 16, 2015, at his home, after a several year battle with ALS.

He was born May 29, 1943, a son of the late Francis Samuel and Jean (Wagner) Zeller.  On February 16, 1962, he married the former Barbara Metzger, who survives.

Larry graduated Mifflinburg Area High School in 1962.

His seven grandchildren called him “Pappy”.  Mary, Jeremy and Danielle Zeller, Logan and Rachel Metzger and Allison and Connor Pierce were always a priority for Pappy.  Larry attended as many of the grandkids activities as he could and was always their biggest fan.  It didn’t matter if it was a football or basketball game, swim meet, ballet performance, rodeo, choir concert or any other activity Pappy was there to support his grandkids.  He also loved to tease his grandkids.

Larry was the first president of the Jaycee Chapter in Mifflinburg.  He was also a Boy Scout leader of Troop 520.  A highlight of his leadership was taking a group of scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in the summer of 1978.

He was a member of Dreisbach United Church of Christ for over 50 years where he taught Sunday School, was a leader of the Youth Fellowship and served several terms on the Consistory.  He was also a member of the Mifflinburg Lodge No. 370 Free & Accepted Mason and was 32 degree member.

Larry’s working career included twenty plus years as a butcher at Weis Markets and over thirty years before retiring from Bucknell University where he served as an electrician.  His skill set was enormous and there were not too many things he could not put together or fix with his hands and a set of tools.  In Larry’s retirement days, he enjoyed meeting his friends for morning coffee.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping.  The first day of deer and trout seasons were always days Larry would be excited about because he had the chance to take his grandsons with him.  Larry enjoyed camping any chance he had and spent many a week each summer with his children (and a few years with grandchildren) at Assateague Island where he would be up early casting a line from the shore before Barb and rest of the crew hit the beach.  Larry also enjoyed cooking and if he enjoyed a meal he would be sure to tell the cook how “terrible” it was.

Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Yvette Zeller of Charlotte, NC; two daughters and sons-in-law, Annette and Bill Metzger, Jr. of Lewisburg, and Tammy and Robert Pierce of Mifflinburg; one brother and sister-in-law, Max and Trena Zeller of Mifflinburg; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Donna and Carl Everitt, and Linda Hollenbach, all of Mifflinburg; mother-in-law, Mary Metzger; and seven grandchildren.

Family and friends are welcome to a time of visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., Friday, at the Dreisbach United Church of Christ, 875 Dreisbach Church Rd., Lewisburg, where a memorial service to celebrate the life of Larry will be conducted at 11 a.m., with Rev. Ruth Farrell, officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Dreisbach UCC, 875 Dreisbach Church Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837 to help support the new sound system project.

Funeral arrangements are by Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Rd., Mifflinburg.