Yoder, James (1948-1968)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Oct 31 p. 3

Birth date: 1948

text of obituary:

VS Worker Dies In Costa Rica River

Hartville, Ohio. — A memorial service was held Sunday afternoon at the Marlboro, O. Conservative Mennonite Church for James Yoder, 20-year-old member of this church who died in Costa Rica where he was in Voluntary Service.

The young man was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Yoder, who operate a bookstore here. The parents, a sister Lois, and Joe Yoder attended the funeral service and burial, held at the mission church at Heredia, Costa Rica on Oct. 18, the day after the body was recovered from the Sarapiqui River.

The young man and some companions were wading in the ice cold waters of the river on Oct. 15 when he fell in, face forward. He made two attempts to get up, but was swept away by the strong current. The body was recovered two days later, wedged against a log. Apparent cause of death was drowning.

James was a graduate of Central Christian High School, Kidron, and attended Malone College for two years. He went to Costa Rica last July to engage in community development work under the Conservative Mennonite Board of Missions.