Tobias Bomberger, son of Christian and Mary (Kreider) Bomberger, was born May 1, 1855, in Lebanon County. He and his wife, Anna S. Kreider (1858-1927), had four children. He lived on the farm at the intersection of PA Routes 934 and 322, where minister Abram and Jean Hoover now live.

Tobias was interested in many things. He learned the trade of carpenter, spent several years farming, and was also involved in shoe manufacturing. In 1902, he founded the Annville and Palmyra Electric Company and managed it until he sold it to Metropolitan Edison in 1926. He is also remembered as one of the first members to drive a car to church, his seven-passenger Pierce Arrow.

He was "deeply interested and particularly active in all the work of the church" ("Obituary," December 7, 1933, 767). A wealthy and generous man, he was actively involved in the construction of Gingrichs brick church in 1919-1921. When Bishop Westenberger decided that no offering would be lifted at the February 17, 1921, dedication of Gingrichs brick church, Tobias stood at the back of the church, stuffing his pockets with contributions. He then personally paid the remainder of the construction bill and also donated the benches for the church.

On December 27,1927, Tobias was ordained deacon at Gingrichs Church. Isaac B. Smith, Aaron R. Kreider, Henry Stover, Isaac Gingrich, and Amman G. Ebersole shared the lot with him. Bishop Westenberger was in charge of the service, and Bishop Denton Martin preached the ordination sermon.

On November 13, 1933, as Tobias was crossing the street in Annville to mail a letter, he was struck by a car and killed. Bishops Noah Risser and Noah Mack presided over the funeral service, using the texts 1 Samuel 20:3 and Matthew 11:28. He is buried in Gingrichs Mennonite Cemetery.

Lebanon District Record Book, 1927-1933, 1951-1953. December 22, 1927. Lebanon District archive box, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. 156
"Obituary." Gospel Herald V. 20(19) August 11, 1927, p. 447; V. 26(36) December 7, 1933, p. 767.
Reminiscing meeting held at Gingrichs Mennonite Church, June 3, 1996.
"Tobias Bomberger Is Killed When Struck by Automobile Monday Afternoon." Lebanon Daily News V. 61(62) November 14, 1933, p. 1-2.
Weaver, Martin G. Mennonites of Lancaster Conference. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931, p. 228, 458.

HISTORY of the EAST PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE of the CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST by PHARES BRUBAKER GIBBLE ILLUSTRATED Copyright, 1951 by The East Pennsylvania Conference Church of the United Brethren in Christ