Byler, Joseph N. (1895-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Feb 22 p. 3

Birth date: 1895 Jan 4

text of obituary:

WITH MCC SINCE 1941

Former Relief Director Dies

Akron, Pa. (MCC) — Joseph N. Byler, former director of the MCC relief program, died Feb. 14 at the Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pa. He was 67.

Cause of death was chronic congestive heart failure. He was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 25.

Byler served with Mennonite Central Committee since 1941, when he went to Europe as a relief worker. He served in unoccupied France from Sept., 1941, to Dec., 1942. In 1943-44 he was director of hospital units for the Civilian Public Service program.

In 1945 he was named Director of the Foreign Relief and Services section and served in this capacity until 1960, when he was succeeded by Robert W. Miller. He continued to administer the Orphan Support and Educational Assistance programs on a part-time basis until his death.

While director of MCC relief, Byler was also active in several other organizations related to his field of service. He was a member of the executive committees of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service, Heifer Project, Inc., and CRALOG, an organization which supervised postwar relief work in Germany.

Before joining the MCC, he was a faculty member at Hesston College, Hesston, Kan. He is a graduate of Hesston College and received an M.A. degree at the University of Nebraska.

He was born Jan. 4, 1895, at East Brook, Pa., the son of Noah K. and Lydia (Gingerich) Byler.

He is survived by his wife, Edna Ruth (Miller), and children Delmar R., Stony Point, N. Y., and Mrs. Merle (Donna Lou) Bender, Wichita, Kan. There are seven grandchildren.

Funeral services were scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m., at the Monterey Mennonite Church, Leola, Pa. Kermit Derstine, pastor of the Akron Mennonite Church of which Mr. Byler was a member, was to officiate, with C. N. Hostetler, Jr., chairman of Mennonite Central Committee, giving the message.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Apr 26 p. 11

text of obituary:

J. N. Byler Memorial Fund Established

MCC has decided to establish a J. N. Byler Memorial Fund in response to suggestions from friends of the late Bro. Byler. Contributions to the fund will be used to construct a new dormitory at the Mennonite Vocational School, Taegu, Korea.

Bro. Byler helped to start this school and was always interested in its operation. The school has an enrollment of over 200 orphan boys between the ages of 14 and 20. The boys are given training in carpentry, printing, agriculture and other skills to enable them to make their own living . Better dormitory facilities are urgently needed. It is estimated that the new dormitory will cost $5,000.

Gifts are being received for the fund until Aug. 1, 1962.

The Mennonite obituary: 1962 Mar 6 p. 155