Charles "Stabe" Hackenberry, 90, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, passed away and entered into glory to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 10, 2022. He was a former resident of Webster and Henrietta, New York.

Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Stabe was the son of Lester and Arlene (Stabley) Hackenberry. He was the youngest of three boys. Stabe looked up to his older brothers—the late Lester and Donald Hackenberry. It was one of Lester's friends, Robert Dittmar, who became Stabe's youth group leader/mentor, and a life-long friendship was forged. During Stabe's high school years, Bob Dittmar, who was leading and discipling young teenagers, had the idea of forming a youth, and as a result a new camp began. Camp Susque, a youth summer camp began in 1947 in Trout Run, Pennsylvania and Stabe was one of its first campers. He would continue his deep love for the Camp by serving as a long term board member and by influencing countless people to go to camp where they too could be confronted with the truth of their Creator and experience the beauty of his creation, and hear the good news that Christ Jesus is the Savior of sinners. Stabe sent his children and grandchildren to Camp Susque and the impact that this gospel ministry had on them, along with many others, continues in their lives.

After Stabe graduated from Williamsport High School, he worked for the FBI in Philadelphia. Due to the Korean conflict, Stabe resigned from the FBI and enlisted in the Army Security Agency and was trained as a Morse Code Interceptor. He served in the Army and was stationed in Kenai, Alaska. After his service for his country, through the GI bill, he went to Lycoming College and concluded his education at the University of Buffalo where he earned his Masters degree, as he began his career in teaching History with a special focus on European History. He taught for 32 years in New York State, primarily at Sperry High School in Rush-Henrietta, New York.

In 1958, he met Margaret Scruton at a summer school class at Wheaton College, Illinois. This meeting began a beautiful romance, leading to their wedding in 1960. With a marriage centered on Christ and his Word as their foundation, they enjoyed 62.5 years of marriage. Their marriage served as an example of a Christian marriage to countless people of how to serve the Lord and others by opening up their life and home to many people. Stabe and Marg were blessed with three children: Karen (Steve) Wellum, Lyn (Robert) Young, and Steve (Jennifer) Hackenberry. Stabe and Marg raised their children and taught them the glorious truths of God's Word centered in Christ. What was especially important to Stabe was to teach his family and others that the triune God of the Bible is the sovereign Creator and Lord, and that our identity is to be found in Christ Jesus, and being a child of the King of Kings. Stabe is remembered by his family for always encouraging his children to know and glory in Christ, to live a life of balance, hard work, and to care for one another. Stabe was blessed with 13 grandchildren: from the Wellums: Joel (Stephanie), Justin (Maddy), Joshua (Morgan), Janae, and Jessica (Matt) Cherry; from the Youngs: Joshua (Stephanie), Olivia (Trever) Ruzat, Hunter, Hannah and Jenna; and from the Hackenberry's : Ryan Betlach, Ross, and Regan. The grandchildren greatly loved their grandfather, not only because there was always a reason to find a treat—especially ice cream—but also because he played, laughed, sang and told jokes with them, and taught them that the only place to sit on a roller coaster was in the first seat with your arms lifted high. But most important of all, Stabe and Marg faithfully prayed for their grandchildren daily, and now for their growing number of great-grandchildren: Elijah and Jocelyn Wellum, and Conrad, Grayson and Skylar Wellum. Stabe and Marg also have an honorary daughter, Jen (Charles Ong) Po, who they loved, and Jen cared for and loved Stabe (and Marg) as only a daughter could.

Stabe will also be remembered as a faithful elder in the different churches he served in New York and Pennsylvania, along with his love for history, travel, classical music, gospel music, and great humor. Stabe consistently demonstrated his deep love and commitment to his wife and family. Although he endured a long, slow decline due to illness, one would never hear him complain or grumble. In the last few years of his life, his wife, Marg, tirelessly cared for him with love and devotion. Their love for each other continued to grow until his last breath. Psalm 116:15 reminds us that "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones," and this certainly was true of Stabe. As a family, Stabe rightly taught us to know and love our Creator and Lord. He taught us rightly that Scripture is God's Word and as such, it is trustworthy and true. Most significantly, he taught us the truth of the Gospel that for all those who repent of their sins, place their faith in Christ alone, and receive God's forgiveness of our sins in and through Christ Jesus our Lord, that nothing, not even death itself can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).

Services will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601 on Friday, December 16, 2022. A Viewing will be held at 9:30 AM and a Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM. Committal will take place in the Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Susque at 47 Susque Camp Road, Trout Run, PA 17771 or at www.susque.org/donate .