Elizabeth “Libby” Hunsberger Craver, 93

August 24, 2023

Elizabeth “Libby” Hunsberger Craver, 93, died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on August 24, 2023. Born in Norristown, PA on June 20, 1930 to the late J. Newton Hunsberger, Jr of Skippack, PA and Florence Tinkler Hunsberger of Jenkintown, PA; loving spouse of the late John “Jack” F. Craver of Lancaster, PA; devoted mother of Jeffrey L. (Anne) Craver, MD of St. Louis, MO; Deborah A. (Jerry) Manson of Tuba City, AZ; Linda J. Bumsted of Southport, NC and Scott F. (Jeannine) Craver of Catasauqua, PA; proud grandmother of Mary Pat (Jason, MD) Stangl of Middleton, WI, Kathryn “Kat” Wolfe of Philadelphia, PA, Jenee Craver of Chicago, IL; Rachael Bumsted of Garner, NC; Megan (Brandon) Muller of Crested Butte, CO; Jessica Bumsted of Chicago, IL; adored great-grandmother of Lily May Clark of Philadelphia, PA, Charlie Stangl and Cameron Stangl of Middleton, WI. Preceded in death by two dear siblings: Kathryn “Kay” Bagwell of Topsham, ME and J. Newton Hunsberger III of Wilmington, DE.

Libby graduated from Abington High School in 1948, Abington, PA and received a BS in home economics from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY in 1952. During her time at Cornell, she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and participated in the Octagon Club, Drama Club and several choirs including the Women’s Glee Club and Sage Chapel Choir. She also met her future husband, John “Jack” Craver at Cornell, and they married on August 9, 1952 at the Glenside Baptist Church, Glenside, PA. In 1974, she received her MS in family and consumer studies from Lehman College (CUNY), Bronx, NY.

After welcoming four children to their family, Libby started working as a home economics teacher at Alice Deal Junior High School and Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC. She continued to teach at Pelham Junior/Senior High School, Pelham, NY and Rye Junior High School, Rye, NY. In 1975, she and Jack moved to Lancaster, PA where they both fell in love with Pennsylvania Dutch traditions that were part of their family heritage. In Lancaster, Libby taught at Wheatland Junior High School for fifteen years, and she and Jack became devoted members of the Donegal Presbyterian Church, Mt. Joy, PA where they enjoyed singing as members of the Donegal Church Choir.

After her retirement from teaching, she continued to remain active as a volunteer instructor and coordinator of volunteers for the Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center (formerly the Lancaster County Therapeutic Riding Center), a nonprofit organization providing quality equine programs for children with disabilities since 1981.

She also enjoyed planning Thanksgiving family reunions, a long-standing Hunsberger family tradition, with her mother, “the hostess with the mostest,” Florence T. Hunsberger. These reunions were usually held at a hotel property run by her late husband, Jack Craver: the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC, Plaza Hotel in New York, NY and the Host Farm Inn and Resort in Lancaster, PA.

Libby was first and foremost a “horse woman” who grew up riding and jumping horses at her father’s farm, winning many ribbons at competitions. She continued to ride into her late 70s. She liked to remind her family of her paternal grandfather, J. Newton Hunsberger, MD’s favorite adage: “Living is like jumping a horse, throw your heart over first and you will take the fence. That is the best any of us can do.” A passionate lover of animals and avid bird watcher, her other interests included travel, pastel drawing, sewing, quilting and gardening.

The Craver family would like to thank the Brethren Village staff, By Your Side and Hospice for All Seasons for their loving care of Libby.

A celebration of Libby’s life will be held 11am on Saturday, September 9th at Donegal Presbyterian Church, 1891 Donegal Springs Rd, Mt. Joy, PA. The Rev. Matthew D. Randolph will officiate. Visitation with family and friends will begin at 10:00am. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center, PO Box 10724, Lancaster, PA 17605, Jack Craver ’52 Memorial Scholarship at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY: https://sha.cornell.edu/alumni/giving/existing-funds/scholarships/ or the Donegal Presbyterian Church, Mt Joy, PA.

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