David Luthy 1941 – 2025
I was informed yesterday that David Luthy had passed away earlier in the morning. Among other things, David was an Amish historian, founder and maintainer of the Heritage Historical Library, and an editor and contributor to Family Life, one of the most well-known and influential publications in the Amish and Plain Anabaptist world.
Personally, he was one of the people who, through his writings, helped me to understand much about Amish population and its growth, as well as historical settlements, through his excellent book The Amish in America: Settlements That Failed 1840-1960 and its addendums.
I know he leaves a lot of people behind who knew and loved him among his family, friends and church, and others who didn’t know him personally, but will miss his contributions of knowledge through his writings.
I want to extend condolences to his family, and I hope that we’ll hear a bit more at some point from them on David. In the meantime, here is his obituary via the Aylmer Express. The viewing/visitation is October 24th and funeral October 25th in Aylmer, Ontario.
David Luthy 1941 – 2025
David Richard Luthy was born on December 14, 1941 in Peoria, Illinois to Fredrick and Ruth (Conron) Luthy. He entered into his eternal rest Tuesday October 21, 2025 at Hospice Home in Dobson North Carolina, after a period of declining health.
On March 18, 1971 David married Mary Stoll who preceded him in death on February 25, 2017. To this union were born seven children: Ben (Margaret Coletti) Union Grove, NC; Miriam (Matthew Graber) New Castle, VA; Reuben (Elizabeth Coletti) Owosso, MI; Elizabeth (Henry Zehr) Union Grove, NC; Ezra (Wilma Peight) Lebanon, PA; Ruth (Nathan Cain) Manchester, TN; Martha (Matthew Vendley) Mount Pleasant, MI. Also survived by 27 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and a sister-in-law Emily Luthy of Peoria, Illinois.
David was preceded in death by his wife Mary, brother Tom Luthy, and grandson Conrad Aaron Luthy.
David was a longtime resident of the Aylmer area and a member of the Aylmer Amish Church.
Update
David Luthy’s daughter Ruth Cain shared the following with me about her father, which she allowed me to share with you:
I was so fortunate to spend a few days with him a few weekends ago. I will forever be grateful for that. He was a wonderful dad to me. I wish you could have met him. He never met a stranger. And his sense of humor was none like no other.
I definitely grew up in a unique Amish home with a lot of exposure to other people other than Amish. Mainly due to the fact of so many professors and others coming to do research. Although I am no longer Amish myself, I do respect different aspects of the culture. I am forever grateful for my mom and dad instilling so many great values into their children.
David Luthy
Oh, my gosh! I had no idea he’d been in declining health lately. But now he’s with his beloved wife, grandson, etc. at long last. May he rest in peace. He certainly was a pioneer in the publishing field. No wonder he had so many friends and his time and expertise was so highly sought after. Truly, his work was a real service to so many people. He will be dearly missed. Thanks, Erik.
I am sorry to hear of the passing of David Luthy and extend to his family my sincere sympathy.
Like you, Erik, I am grateful that David wrote the book The Amish in America: Settlements That Failed. I have the third edition of the book which covers the years 1840-2019. I always wondered how many hours/days/years it took him to write the book — many of the settlements’ histories are very detailed.
In my nine years as a tour guide at Menno-Hof in Shipshewana, I’ve had several occasions where visitors to Menno-Hof have wanted to know about a specific settlement that failed, so I always have that book available where we can learn more. In the back of this third edition of the book there are listed 142 settlements that failed between the years 1961-2019. The only information listed about these settlements is the year the settlement began and the year that it failed. I hope that someone can write another edition of the book that will give more information about each of these settlements. I had hoped to some day meet David Luthy and visit the Heritage Historical Library. Do you, Erik, or any Amish America reader know the status of the library now that David Luthy is no longer with us?
David Luthy-May David rest in peace.
Dear Erik,
Thank you very much for notifying us of the death of David Luthy. I knew quite well. Our last visit a few years ago went very well. May David rest in peace.
Sincerely In Christ Jesus,
Larry Clarence Maximus Innocent Lewis
London, Ontario, Canada.
David Luthy
Yes ,David left a big footprint in preserving Amish history , we attended the wake held at Union Grove NC , and enjoyed visiting with the Children that were there …Whatever is going on with the Union Grove NC community now, it’s not good …
His son told me that David hadn’t written anything in the past 5 years ,that disease robs one of a lot ….the articles you were seeing lately were re-runs …..
In March 1971 , I served as a “Nava hucker”, at David and Mary Stoll’s wedding….The Late ,great Elmo Stoll and his wife were to fill that spot , but something or other happened ,it fell through , and I was asked to fill in….Mary Stoll was my first cousin , a very sweet lady indeed….I was glad to do it …..
Comment
Are you related to Ira Wagler son of David and Ida Mae (Yoder) Wagler. I think you are his brother aren’t you?