Royer, I. W. (1874-1968)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Feb 1 p. 3

Birth date: 1874

text of obituary:

94-Year-Old Minister Dies at Upland, Calif.

Orrville, Ohio. — Funeral services for Rev. I. W. Royer, 94, pastor emeritus of the Orrville Mennonite Church, were held on Jan. 22 at Upland Mennonite Church, Upland, Calif., with Pastor Roger Ricker officiating. Rev. Royer, who became the first pastor of the Orrville Mennonite Church in 1912, died at Upland on Jan. 19.

Rev. Royer became pastor emeritus in 1952. He and his wife moved to California in 1957 where they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1966. Mrs. Royer died in January of 1967.

A pioneer in educational and Sunday school endeavors of the (Old) Mennonite Church, Rev. Royer was the first president of the Elkhart Institute and Goshen College Alumni Assn., served for many years on the Mennonite Board of Education, and was a leader in state and national Sunday school work of the Mennonite Church.

Surviving him are his three daughters, Dr. Mary Royer, professor of education at Goshen (Ind.) College, Katherine Royer and Mrs. Elizabeth Neff, both of Upland, Calif.