Olonzo P. Fike

YORK - Olonzo P. Fike, 92 of York, died Saturday, December 12, 2008 at Normandie Ridge Nursing Home. He was the husband of the late Ardith (Wotring) Fike to whom he was married for 65 years. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, December 20, 2008 at Normandie Ridge Nursing Home, 1700 Normandie Drive, York, with the Rev. Jon Bausman, pastor of Altersgate United Methodist Church officiating, assisted by Peter Seiler, Resident Life Administrator at Normandie Ridge Nursing Home. A viewing will be held 1- 2 PM Saturday at the nursing home. There will also be a Celebration of Life Service held 2:00 PM Sunday, December 21, 2008 at Maple Spring Church of the Brethren, RR2 Box 250, Eglon, West Virginia, with the Rev. Gary Meaks and the Rev. J. Rodgers Fike, officiating. A viewing will be held from 1-2:00 PM at the Church. Burial will be in Aurora Cemetery. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 1551 Kenneth Road, York is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Fike was born September 13, 1916, in Eglon, Preston County, WV, the son of the late Emra T. and Rebecca Jane (Umbel) Fike. He was a graduate of John Harris High School in Harrisburg and later, in 1935, became ordained as a minister at The Hummel Street Church of the Brethren, Harrisburg. He began his ministry as Pastor of Terra Alta COB in WV, and soon after assumed a pastoral position in Accident, MD, where he served from 1945-1951. He continued serving the Lord for 51 years. In 1942, Mr. Fike joined the Maryland State Health Dept as a registered sanitarian. In 1957 he was promoted to Supervisor of Housing as a Housing Training Consultant for the Bureau of Environmental Hygiene, which he continued until his retirement on June 30, 1977. He served as past President of MD Association of Sanitarians, past Director of National Association of Sanitarians, past President and Director of MD Classified Employees, and as Chaplain of the Retired Chapter 152 of the MD Classified Employees Association. He became a member of Rotary International in Grantsville, MD in 1946, and served as Chairman of the Program Committee for the Hagerstown Rotary Club in 1956. He was also a member and Chaplin of the Sykesville-South Carroll Rotary Club. Mr. Fike traveled in all 50 states, 18 foreign countries, and on 3 continents. He enjoyed singing, art, wood, crafts, photography, clock building and lecturing. He is survived by his twin children, Evangeline F. Turner of York and John P. Fike and wife, Romaine of Gettysburg; one grandson, John P. Fike, Jr. and wife, Kathy of York; and two great grandsons, William and Christian Fike. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Bertha Whitacre, Lottie Kight, and Loretta Diehl; and a son-in-law, John Turner.