Luther Leroy Shetler of Bluffton died on Dec. 15, 2018. He was born on July 1, 1917, on a dairy farm near Goshen, Indiana, to Alvin P. and Sadie (Yoder) Shetler. He graduated from Goshen College in 1938 and married Geneva Stamm in Goshen on Dec. 22, 1940.
He received a doctorate in Mathematics Education from Indiana University and came to teach Mathematics at Bluffton College in 1950.
He retired from Bluffton College in 1984 and began 25 years of volunteering at Bluffton Hospital and Mennonite Memorial Home. During retirement he and Geneva enjoyed traveling and learning at elderhostels in the US, Central America and Europe. He was well known in northwest Ohio and Indiana as "The Bubble Man" for his lectures to churches and school groups linking mathematics and nature - usually ending by an audience member being enclosed in a bubble – if the bubbles were working that day.
Luther was a member of Bluffton First Mennonite Church.
He is survived by his wife of 78 years, 5 children: Joenita (Stanley) Clemens, Bluffton, Terry (Bonnie Wolfe) Shetler, Bellvue, Colo., Lu Derstine, Bluffton, Peter (Jan Bender) Shetler, Goshen, Ind., and Tami (Michael) Hardy, Bluffton. He has 14 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. He is also survived by two nieces: Dorcas (Spencer) Haddock and Darla Schrock; and 2 nephews: Lincoln (Kathy) Schrock and Arlen (Eileen Murphy) Schrock.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law, Dale Derstine, his sister, Lura (Titus) Schrock, and his nephew, Laurel Schrock.
Online condolences may be given at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted with Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
