Paul R. Hollinger

Paul R. Hollinger, 91, is alive in the presence of his Heavenly Father and his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Paul’s mortal body died August 29, 2026, at the time appointed by God, at his residence in The Glen at Willow Valley, Lancaster, PA. Paul was born in a log farmhouse in Elizabethtown, PA, to David Shearer Hollinger and Katie (Greiner) Hollinger. He was one of seven children. He is survived by his sister, Rhoda Kilmer, wife of the late John Kilmer; and his brother, David Hollinger, husband of the late Judy Hollinger, and his sister-in-law, Ranee, wife of the late James Hollinger. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Elizabeth Crist and her husband, Alvin; Susan Haldeman and her husband, Lloyd; and Alta Grosh, wife of the late John Grosh. Paul married Sylvia Anne Ruoss, daughter of Christian Clarence and Alta (Russell) Ruoss, on August 22, 1958, in New Holland. Their daughter is Kerin Donelle, married to Dr. H. Douglas Buckwalter, Lititz; whose children are: Ahna Fulmer, Lititz, whose children are Gracelyn, Caleb and Lillian; Andrew Buckwalter (Laura), Asheville, NC, whose children are Edmund and Russell; and Emily Roth (Tyler), Lancaster, whose daughter is Lucia. Their son is Timothy Ruoss Hollinger, married to Deborah (Edmonds), Wheaton, IL; whose children are Christian (Christine), Franklin, TN, whose children are Olive, Emeline, and James; Dale, San Diego, CA, and Heather, Schaumburg, IL. Paul began his elementary education at Wheatland, a one-room school in rural Mount Joy Township, and graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 1952; Moody bible Institute (Pastor’s Course) in 1958 and Elizabethtown College (A.B. in History) in 1961. He did graduate work in history at Temple University, Philadelphia, and in 2007, the Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School conferred on Paul an honorary Doctor of Letters degree, D.Litt. His Christian identity began with his personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior at the United Zion Church, Elizabethtown, 1944, where he taught boys Sunday School and Daily Vacation Bible School classes. Ministry continued when he joined the staff of First Baptist Church, Lancaster, as Youth Director (1959-1964), continuing to serve there as teacher, deacon, and choir member for years. In 1974, Paul and Sylvia, and their children, became a part of Calvary Independent Church, Lancaster, where he served as teacher, elder on several Pastor Search Committees, as Chairman of the Relocation Committee, choir member for over 40 years, and author of A History of Calvary Independent Church, published in 2012. Paul was employed in Christian radio for 53 years, beginning at WMBI in Chicago, WEZN, Elizabethtown, and then at WDAC-FM, Lancaster, starting as Manager in 1961, then as partner in ownership with Richard and Dan Crawford in 1981; adding WBYN-FM, Boyertown, PA in 1991, until 2014. He was a member of the Board of Directors of National Religious Broadcasters for 40 years, and the Board of Directors of Willow Valley Retirement Communities for 24 years, 6 as Chairman. Paul and Sylvia lived for 37 years at Holly Hill Farm, New Providence, PA, where they restored a 200-year-old stone farmhouse, and his favorite recreation was to be out working on his tractor. During his time, Paul wrote a history of Providence Township, titled Now and Then. A Memorial Service will be held at Calvary Church, 1051 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, PA, on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., with Pastors John Fry and Stan Maun officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until the time of service. Private Interment. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Calvary Church calvarychurch.org and Align Life Ministries alignlifeministries.org