Dennis Strawbridge

Dennis J. Strawbridge, 77, of Leola, passed away on March 12, 2026, at his residence. Born in Lebanon to the late Lester E. and Marilyn E. (Roof) Strawbridge, he was the devoted husband of Martha L. (Esch) Strawbridge, with whom he shared 46 years of marriage.

A graduate of Hershey Milton High School, Dennis was a man of quiet faith who attended Harvest Fellowship Church in Stevens and New Covenant Church of God in Ephrata. He found deep comfort in reading his Bible and spent many peaceful hours tending his beloved flower garden, where he affectionately called himself the “Yard Man.” Over the years he worked as an arcade service technician for Pla-Mor Music and Amusement Company, later served as night manager at Leisure Lanes in Lancaster, and concluded his working life with a part-time position in the Garden Center at Walmart in Ephrata.

Dennis had a gentle wit that could make anyone smile and enjoyed building and displaying model cars, decorating bird houses, cheering for the Flyers, watching NASCAR, and listening to the Beatles. In his final years he took special delight in watching Seinfeld reruns each day. He is survived by his wife Martha, three children—Douglas E. Strawbridge and his wife Renee’ J. (Pearson) Strawbridge, Kevin L. Strawbridge, and Joel Esch and his wife Joann (Hagelin) Esch—his grandson Isaac T. Kreiser, ten step-grandchildren, his brother Lester R. Strawbridge, and his sister Cheryl A. Strawbridge-Varner. He was preceded in death by his son Ronald E. Strawbridge, his brother Thomas L. Strawbridge, and his sister Linda F. Strawbridge-McCaughey.