Neufeld, Talitha (1885-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Mar 27 p. 1

Birth date: 1885 Mar 26

text of obituary:

FORMER MISSIONARY TO CHINA CALLED BY DEATH AT REEDLEY

Reedley, Calif. — Funeral services were conducted at the First Mennonite Church here March17 for Miss Talitha Neufeld, 72, who served as a missionary to China under the General Conference Mennonite Church for two terms and also taught at the University of Nanking. She died at her home here March 13 after a long illness.

Born in Russia, Miss Neufeld came to Reedley with her parents in 1911. She studied in Europe and also at Bethel College in Kansas and a seminary in New York in preparation for service as a missionary.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Apr 3 p. 8

text of obituary:

TALITHA NEUFELD

Miss Talitha Neufeld of 16 Cyrier Ave., Reedley, Calif., daughter of William and Ida Schlenker [sic Schlenken] Neufeld, was born at Gnadenfeld, Russia on March 26, 1885. She departed from this life at her home on March 13,1958, at 1:30 p. m. to be with her Lord and Savior.

She was baptized upon her confession of faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was 19 years old through the ministry of Elder Heinrich Dirks.

She made Reedley her home when her parents with their family came to the United States in 1911. Here she joined the First Mennonite Church, where she remained a faithful member.

Upon her arrival in America she set out to prepare herself as a missionary. She had already attended several schools in Russia and Germany and had taught in a girls' high school. In addition she spent two years at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas and one year at New York Seminary. In 1917 she went to Kai Chow, China as a missionary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the General Conference Mennonite Church. She performed this ministry for two terms and spent a third term as a teacher in the University of Nanjing. In 1940 she returned to the United States to live in Reedley, though she traveled considerably in this country and Canada.

She was thoroughly in love with the Oriental people, their culture and their ways. For this cause she gave her life and God used her. She had a great desire to travel and to be active teaching small groups. This helped her to place a high value on the individual, and gave her many personal friends. She enjoyed theological and philosophical discussions. Her favorite pastime was to sit at the organ and to play the old chorales.

Her cancerous condition brought her much misery and pain during the last months, but she manifested a splendid Christian spirit throughout her illness.

Her parents and her three brothers preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish her memory six half-brothers, Henry of Atascadero, Calif., William of Formosa, John of El Cerito sic El Cerrito], Calif., Herbert and Eric of Concord, Calif., Herman of Reedley, Calif.; two half-sisters, Mrs. Margaret Gehringer [sic Geringer] of Concord, Calif. and Elizabeth, Mrs. M. H. Kozak of Hayward, Calif., and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted at the First Mennonite Church, Aaron J. Epp officiating. Burial was made in the Reedley cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1958 Apr 1 p. 208