Lewis F. Ginter

York—Lewis F. Ginter, 88, died Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at Pleasant Acres Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was the husband of the late Virginia E. (Long) Ginter to whom he was married for 47 years. A Celebration of Life Service will be 2 PM, Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Rd, York, with the Rev. Brian A. McClinton of Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in York officiating. A viewing will be held from 1-2 PM, Saturday, at the funeral home. Burial will be held in Mt. Zion Cemetery. Born August 30, 1923 in York, he was a son of the late Rollin S. Ginter and Ruth (Peiffer) Zirkle. He was employed with U.S. Steel in Fairless Hills, where he operated and maintained heavy equipment for 33 years until his retirement in 1986. He was very proud that he had never taken a sick day the first 30 years. Lewis obtained his private pilot’s license and flew small aircraft. One day he buzzed a “Tomato Farm” in New Jersey. The airport manager was waiting for him when he landed, Lewis could not deny his stunt since there were still tomato vines tangled in his landing gear. He gave up piloting after he walked away from a crash landing. He was a performer on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ, riding a motorcycle inside a steel cage ball and was also a horse racing jockey in New Jersey. He was a very strong minded independent person. He hated to ask for help, was full of humor but you had to really listen to pick up on it, enjoyed building things and working on automobile engines. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and dearly loved them all. Mr. Ginter is survived by five sons, Gary Landis and wife, Linda of York, Ronnie Ginter of Red Lion, Lonnie Ginter and wife, Mots of York, Larry Ginter and wife, Bess of Edison, NJ and Tom Cunningham and wife, Sue of Dover; three daughters, Margaret Ritchie and husband, Luke of Robesonia, Ruth Hirschmann and husband, Herbert of Kileen, TX and Chloe Hough and husband, Frank of Apache Junction, AZ; 23 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren; one brother, Eddie Zirkle of Harker Heights, TX; one sister, Linda Thompson and husband, Jerry of Vero Beach, FL. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Twila Ruth, Delores Rackley and Nancy Steelman. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Assoc., 924 N. Colonial Ave., York, Pa 17403 or Pleasant Acres Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 118 Pleasant Acres Rd, York, Pa 17402.