Byler, John I. (1882-1970)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 May 21 p. 10

Birth date: 1882

text of obituary:

Retired Minister, City Mission Worker Dies in Ohio

Goshen, Ind. — Funeral services for Rev. John I. Byler, 88, retired minister, teacher, and city mission worker, were held April 29 at North Canton, Ohio. He died April 26 at a Canton nursing home where he had been a patient since September 1969.

The services were conducted by Rev. Russell Krabill, pastor of the Prairie Street Mennonite Church in Elkhart, of which Rev. Byler was a member.

Rev. Byler was active in church work for 60 years. For 15 years he engaged in city mission work in Toronto, Fort Wayne, Youngstown, and Chicago under the Mennonite Board of Missions. He served in Church of the Brethren pastorates in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia.

Rev. Byler also was a music teacher and public school teacher and taught at two Bible colleges. In the 1920s he and his wife and 10 children formed a family singing group which gave programs in 32 states, Mexico and Canada.

Surviving in addition to his widow, Amanda, are four daughters, Mrs. Orpha B. Kutnow of Broomall. Pa., Miss Mary L. of Massillon, O., Mrs. David Palaci of Buenos Aires, and Mrs. Roy D. Roth of Siletz, Ore.; six sons, J. Harold of Galax, Va., Rev. John T. of Canton, Rev. Samuel E. of Plattsburgh, N. Y., Rev. James E. of Lafayette, Ga., Rev. David O. of Hickory, N. C., and Rev. Robert O. of Ventnor, N. J.; 26 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and two sisters.