Mrs. Mary Reimert Dies; Former Missionary, 93
Mrs. Mary A. Reimert, who was the wife of the Rev. W. A. Reimert, missionary martyr of the Reformed Church of America, now the United Church of Christ, and mother of William D. Reimert, president and executive editor of the Call Chronicle Newspapers, died yesterday at the Fox Nursing Home, Warrington, Bucks County. She would have been 94 on Nov. 11.
Mrs. Reimert was born in Lynnville, a daughter of the late Daniel and Sarah (Ettinger) Snyder. She attended the public schools of Lynn Township and the Slatington Academy. She was subsequently the teacher at the Lynnville one-room school.
Suceeding Mrs. Reimert at the Lynnville School was her niece, Edna Snyder, who taught there until the school was consolidated into what is now the Northwestern Lehigh School district.
Assigned to China
She was married to the Rev. Reimert in 1901 and served with him at St. Paul's Reformed Church, Summit Hill, until 1902 when he was called to the missionary service. He was assigned to help develop missions in China with Dr. William E. Hoy, shortly after the Boxer Rebellion.
The Reimerts arrived in the mission field in Yochow City, Hunan Province, on Christmas Eve, 1902, with their 11 week old son, William. Mrs. Reimert served there with her husband until he was slain on June 7, 1920.
Rev. Reimert met his death at the hands of Chinese solder-bandits, an army officer killing him while he was trying to protect women and children who had fled to the missionary compound. Flight to a refuge was usual during the periodic invasion of the war lords of those times.
Sensed Upheaval
At the time of his death Rev. Reimert had been resigned as president of Huping Christain College at Yochow, which he headed for a number of years. He had sensed the upheaval that was to come to China 15 years later, and he also wanted to provide an education for his four children.
Mrs. Reimert and her youngest daughter, Marguerite, were rescued by a detachment from a Japanese gunboat which happened to be in the area at the time of her husband's assassination. She was rejoined later with two others of her three youngest, both of whom had been in school when the tragedy occurred. William was already in the United States attending Mercersburg Academy.
Returned to U.S.
She returned to this country without delay and took residence at 709 N. 7th St., Allentown, from 1920 until 1935, a period during which her four children were all graduated from Ursinus College.
In 1935, Mrs. Reimert moved to Rydal to make her home with her daughter Marguerite, wife of Albert C. Helwig. Three years ago she entered the Fox Nursing Home because of declining health.
She was widely known in Pennsylvania in her younger years as a speaker in behalf of foreign missions.
She was a member of Dubbs Memorial United Church of Christ, Allentown, and while in good health was active in the women's organizations of the church.
In addition to her son William and Mrs. Helwig, she is survived by a son, Samuel A. Reimert, Huntingdon; and a daughter, Kathryn, wife of Dr. John A. King, Boerne, Texas.
Also surviving are four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was predeceased by one brother, William E. Snyder, and one sister, Mrs. Clinton J. Bachman.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Peter's UCC, Lynnville. Burial will be in St. Peter's Union Church Cemetery overlooking the valley where she was born almost 100 years ago. The Rev. Carl O. Trexler will officiate.
Friends may call at St. Peter's Church, Lynnville, from 1 p.m. Saturday until time of funeral.
