Voth, Waldo Otto (1911-2000)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2000 Mar 30 p. 10

Birth date: 1911 Dec 19

text of obituary:

WALDO OTTO VOTH

Waldo Otto Voth, 88, died March 11, 2000, at Goessel, Kan. He was born Dec. 19, 1911, at Goessel to Cornelius Richert and Anna Banman Voth. He was baptized upon confession of faith June 8, 1930, and became a member of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, in which he was active all his life.

Waldo graduated from Goessel Rural High School in 1930 and Bethel College in 1937. He taught at Ness City High School from 1938 to 1942 as shop and physics teacher and baseball and football coach.

During the war years of the 1940s Waldo was active in Civilian Public Service camps: '41 to '43, education director at Fort Collins, Colo.; '43 to '47, education director at Colorado Springs, interrupted by one year (1945) as dairy unit director in El Paso County, Colo., and one year (1946) as director in Three Rivers, Calif.

He assisted his father, a wheat farmer, in many ways. He, his brother Moses and their father did custom cutting and later combining for many summers.

On July 25, 1947, Waldo married Emma R. Unruh, who was a career teacher in various areas. They had one son, Robert D., born Aug. 2, 1950. Emma preceded him in death on July 2, 1996.

Waldo's main occupation was managing the Crossroads Co-op from 1948 to 1976. It was in his home community that he achieved his success and with it served the broader Goessel, Newton and Wichita area. When he took over the business it consisted of only a grocery and a feed store. When he retired it included three complete service stations, four refined fuel bulk plants, three farm supply centers and supply warehouses, and both dry and liquid fertilizers, propane and anhydrous ammonia.

Waldo was an avid church worker, serving in many ways. He was also a family man. He was a charter member of the Goessel Lions Club. He believed in doing things for other people. He served a term on the Mennonite Weekly Review board of directors.

He is survived by a son, Robert of Lawrence; a foster sister, Susie Lohrentz of North Newton; and a close friend, Hilda Voth of North Newton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma; and a brother, Moses.