Notes:
Data source is Richard Ray Mumma, deceased
Data source is Katrina Duckett. E-mail KatDuck@cableone.net
Obituary [Published in Reading Eagle on July 5, 2019]
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LeRoy E. Mumma, 82, of Denver, Pa., died peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.
Survived by wife, Ruth (Weaver) Mumma; daughter, Joyce Kuhn; two daughters-by-marriage, Donna Trusty and Dawn Smith; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
LeRoy was born in Ephrata, Pa., retired from the Bollman Hat Company, operated antique stands for many years and was an avid performing and touring bluegrass fiddle player.
LeRoy was preceded in death by a son, Russell; parents, Reuben and Ella; and four brothers.
Visitation: 10-11 a.m.; services, 11:00 a.m., Tues., July 9, at Peace United Church of Christ, 37 East Swartzville Rd., Denver, PA 17517. Interment at Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata, Pa.
To offer condolences, visit gravenorhomeforfunerals.com.
[Posted in "Bluegrass Today" on July 8, 2019 by Richard Thompson]********************************
LeRoy E Mumma passed away peacefully at his home in Denver, Pennsylvania, on July 2, 2019, aged 82. He had been having health issues for several years.
Mumma (pronounced MOOmaw) was born in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, played with some famous names in bluegrass music, such as Charlie Bailey, the Bailey Brothers; banjo pioneer Johnnie Whisnant – Mumma played fiddle on Whisnant’s Rounder album; Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass, starting in the summer of 1980; and Spirits of Bluegrass.
In 1980, Mumma, as a member of the Southern Grass, was in the backing band that assisted Rose Maddox during her appearance at the Brandywine Mountain Music Convention at Galax that year.
While with the Bailey Brothers he performed at the Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C..
During Mumma’s tenure with Bob Paisley, in the early 1980s, he toured Europe and Canada, performed at venues up and down the east coast of the U.S.A. as well as recording five albums.
After his stint with Paisley, Mumma worked with Spirits of Bluegrass, featuring on one of their LPs.
In 2009 he released a long-overdue solo album, It’s About Time, backed by Danny Paisley and the then members of Southern Grass.
Mumma’s playing style has been likened to that of Clarence ‘Tater’ Tate – with solid backup, with double-stops often reminiscent of Tate.
He had extensive technical knowledge of string instruments and served as a judge at fiddle contests in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Despite his declining health, in recent years Mumma was keen to pass on his knowledge as a mentor at the Mountain Folk Youth Bluegrass Jams, based in Reading, Pennsylvania.
In its inaugural year, 2006, Mumma was honored by the Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering as a Pennsylvania Heritage musician.
As well as being a fiddle player of some repute, Mumma enjoyed hunting and fishing.
LeRoy Mumma R.I.P.
Arrangements by Gravenor Home for Funerals, Inc.
A reception will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Peace United Church of Christ, 37 E Swartzville Road, Denver, Pennsylvania 17517.
Following that, there will be a memorial service, also at the Peace United Church of Christ, with interment at Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata, Pennsylvania.