Dr. George Milton Hostetler, 91, died July 23, 2019 in Rocky Ford, CO. He was born 9/22/1927 in Westover, MD to George Milton and Mary Belle (Smucker) Hostetler. When he was 18 years old he began agriculture, carpentry, and office work outside of the home. He made a serious commitment to follow Christ at 19 years old. He had an agricultural deferment during WW2.

In January 1950 he started Mennonite Voluntary Service in Kansas City, Missouri working as an orderly at Kansas City General Hospital. Leona Gerber was among the group that met him at the train station in KC. During the year in VS they became engaged and were married August 18, 1951 at the Hesston College Chapel. They remained married until Leona died in 2018.

George wanted to go into medicine after VS and received encouragement and guidance from Milo Kauffman who was then the president of Hesston College. He obtained his GED and went to Eastern Mennonite College. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth Medical School in Richmond, Virginia in 1959. He completed his internship at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, Kansas and practiced medicine at the Halstead Clinic for 2 years. From 1962 to 1968 he practiced medicine in Rocky Ford, Colorado. In 1968 the family moved to Harper, KS where Leona had grown up. He practiced with Dr. Ralph Bellar. He also bought the Gerber homestead and started a hog operation with his brother-in-law Emery Gerber.

In 1975, he returned to Rocky Ford and resumed private practice of medicine. In 1985 he began work at Fort Lyon VA Hospital where he practiced for 11 years. He retired in 1996 at the age of 69 and cared for his herd of cattle for 1 year. In 1997 to 1999 he returned to his boyhood community of Westover, Maryland and taught science and math at Holly Grove Christian School.

After teaching, he returned to Rocky Ford. He continued to raise cattle with Frank Vigil. He was an elder at Mennonite Church in Rocky Ford and for a time delivered 1 sermon every month. He loved to sing and was an avid reader. He was preceded in death by his wife Leona, his parents, siblings Mabel Overholt, West Liberty, OH, Susie Kurtz, Westover, MD, Mark Hostetler, Plain City, OH, and Elmer Hostetler, Greenwood, DE, and daughter-in-law Susannah Gries.

Survivors include siblings Marie Detwiler, Harrisonburg, VA, Joe Hostetler, Lititz, PA, David Hostetler, West Liberty, OH, Sara Grace Miller, Harrisonburg, VA,and children Nina Hostetler of Spokane, WA, Rachel Stockton (Les), Winchester, OK, Robert Hostetler (Clarice) Dodge City, KS, Nancy Hostetler, Albuquerque, NM, Calvin Hostetler (Deanna) Rocky Ford, CO, Catherine Joy, Albuquerque, NM, Leon Hostetler, La Junta, CO, Ken Hostetler, Rocky Ford, CO. Surviving grandchildren are Jeremy Wilcome, Winchester, OK, Sierra Hostetler (Alan Skinner), Albuquerque, NM, Mariah Hostetler (Nate Fay), Denver, CO, Bryce Hostetler, Salitral, Panama, and one great grandson Gabriel Skinner.

Funeral Services will be at 10:30 AM on Monday, July 29th at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in La Junta, CO with Pastor John Dell officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery in La Junta, CO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Central Committee 121 E. 30th North Newton, KS 67117.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford - Ustick Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.