Foth, Jacob A. (1872-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Apr 5 p. 8

Birth date: 1872 Oct 6

text of obituary:

JACOB A. FOTH

Jacob A. Foth, son of Henry H. Foth and Maria Graber Foth, was born on Oct. 6, 1872, in South Russia. He came to America with his parents in 1875 when he was two years old. The family first lived in Iowa and then moved to the Grace Hill (Gnadenberg) community east of Newton, Kan.

The passing of his father in the fall of 1888 added to his responsibility in helping his widowed mother keep the family together, father being the oldest child and son. The circumstances became worse a few weeks later when all their winter’s provisions of meat, flour, some wheat and other articles were destroyed by fire. The depression of 1893 and resulting hard times left a definite mark upon father.

He was baptized by Rev. Toews and admitted to membership in the Grace Hill Menn. Church near Whitewater, Kansas.

In 1895 father went to Washita County, Okla., and settled on a claim southeast of Cordell. Later he returned to Kansas and married our mother, Eva Harms Foth, on Oct. 7, 1898. Together they returned to Oklahoma where they suffered the pioneer hardships and joys together. To this union were born eleven children, three of whom died in infancy. Our mother passed away on April 13, 1938, at their home southeast of Cordell. Father then went to California to make his home.

He entered into the bonds of matrimony with Justina Buller, on June 2, 1940, in the Immanuel Mennonite Church of Los Angeles, where he was a member. They made their home in Shafter, Calif., for a number of years. When mother became ill and was hospitalized, father stayed with his children.

Father was deeply religious and attended church regularly. He had a great concern for the salvation of souls. He made great effort to teach his children the Christian virtues and stressed greatly the virtues of honesty, integrity and truthfulness. Recently his testimony was that he would not be here long but had an investment up yonder.

He suffered a thrombosis of the right central part of the brain, or slight stroke, on Feb. 26, 1956. He entered the Los Angeles County General Hospital on March 7, and passed away Wednesday morning, March 14, 1956.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Justina; eight children, five daughters and three sons, Ruth Baergen of Habra, Calif., Linda Schroeder of Lynwood, Calif., Walter of Cordell, Okla., Reuben of Fresno, Calif., Esther Andres of Newton, Kansas, Adolph and Mary of Los Angeles, and Alma Schroy of Whittier, Calif., 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; also four sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law, and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held on March 17, 1956, at 2:30 P.M. in the Immanuel Mennonite Church at Downey, Calif. under the direction of Rev. Gerald B. Vanderwort. His body was interred in the Loma Vista Memorial Park near Fullerton, Calif.