Cleta R. Reinford, 96, of Landis Homes, died peacefully on Saturday, September 21, 2024. She was born on a farm near Harleysville, daughter of the late Paul L. and Naomi Clemens Ruth. On June 4, 1949, she married Daniel J. Reinford and they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary together this past June attending a Mennonite Children’s Choir Concert.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by their five children and their spouses: Merle (Ruth Ann Bauman) Reinford, Lancaster; Glenn (Lorraine Sommers) Reinford, Goshen, Indiana; Rhoda (Jonathan) Charles, Lancaster, Joel (Valerie Mauck), Reinford, Richmond, Virginia and Neil (Donna Harnish) Reinford, Lancaster; 12 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers: Vernon (Janet) Ruth and Leonard (Esther) Ruth. She was preceded in death by her brother: Walton and his wife Ruth, and her sister, Eleanor Ruth.
Dan and Cleta lived in Kulpsville for 45 years. They lived in Harrisonburg, Virginia and later in Nazareth, Ethiopia during Dan’s teaching sabbatical years. They were able to be closer to their children and grandchildren when they moved to Lancaster, in 2001. Cleta readily made friends wherever she lived and also faithfully corresponded with many friends from all over the world. Cleta was a homemaker for most of her adult life. Her compassionate heart, visitation, and hospitality was a support to her husband in the 16 years he served as pastor at Upper Skippack Mennonite Church. She was the church bulletin editor for many years at Upper Skippack and Spring Mount Mennonite Churches. Cleta was employed at the North Penn High School for four years where she enjoyed relating to many students in the cafeteria snack shop. She volunteered at the Thrift Shop in Souderton and the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville. Cleta made many thousands of posters for distribution by chaplains to Montgomery County prisons. She pasted a colorful picture onto one side of the posters and a devotional meditation from Our Daily Bread onto the other side. She was active in women’s sewing groups at Spring Mount Mennonite Church and later at Landisville Mennonite Church.
Mom/Grammy/Great-Grammy loved her family as it grew over the many years. She was a faithful sender of birthday cards. Her love language also included the delicious meals and baked goods she served. She would note which foods were family favorites to make again! Cleta loved introducing her family through showing their pictures to everyone she met, and this continued when she moved to Landis Homes, in 2020. She participated for three seasons in the Landis Homes Sing for the Moment Choir. Cleta will be remembered for her love of singing, especially her daily spontaneous, “Jesus loves me”, in the last year of her life.
The family is very appreciative of the loving care given by the staff of Landis Homes.
The Memorial Service will be held at Landisville Mennonite Church, 3320 Bowman Road, Landisville on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2024 at 10:30 A.M. with visitation from 9:30 A.M. until the time of service. Livestream information will be available on the church website. Interment in Landisville Mennonite Cemetery, at the convenience of the family. Memorial gifts may be made in her memory to: Landisville Mennonite Church Sewing Circle. Arrangements by the Workman Funeral Homes, Inc., Mountville/Columbia. To send an online condolence, visit the condolence page.